§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the application for an increase of pension by J. Goddard, of 59a, Darwin Road, South Ealing, late Private, No. 240278, Middlesex Regiment, who is in a dying condition suffering from tuberculosis whether he is aware that this man's present pension of £1 weekly is given only in respect of manic-depressive
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§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe weekly average number of persons on the registers of the Devonport, Employment Exchange in each month from June, 1925 to January, 1926, is as follows:
psychosis, out of which he has to maintain himself and wife and pay a weekly rental of 106. 2d.; that ex-Private Goddard served in the South African War, re-enlisted in 1915 and served overseas, being gassed during such service, and that as a result he is now suffering from tuberculosis of an advanced character, but notwithstanding has been refused a pension on account of that disability in spite of the fact that in the opinion of his local doctor his condition is very grave; what are the grounds for refusing an increase of pension to this dying man, having regard to the entire absence of tuberculosis from the family history and that he was passed fit for foreign service both on original enlistment and again in 1915; and if it, is the practice to give in such a case the benefit of any doubtful fact to an ex-service man who is dependent entirely on his pension?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYI find that ex-Private Goddard is already in receipt of pension, on the only ground on which pension can be awarded under the Royal Warrants, namely, in respect of a disability which is due to, or aggravated by, war service. The man's claim in respect of tuberculosis, which only manifested itself for the first, time more than five years after his discharge from service, was sympathetically considered by the Ministry, but there were no grounds on which it could be found to be connected with his war service. I am advised that there were no circumstances in the case which offered ground for any reasonable 667W doubt, and, I may add, that the Ministry's decision was confirmed, on appeal, by the independent appeal tribunal.