HC Deb 11 March 1926 vol 192 cc2609-10W
Dr. V. DAVIES

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what pensions, if any, were granted to the 14 officers and men who were invalided out of the Service in 1923, 1924, and 1925, suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis attributable to the conditions of service?

Mr. DAVIDSON

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of to-day. In the seven attributable cases therein mentioned the Admiralty have awarded pensions as follows:

Officers:

  • £232 10s. a year, including a disablement element of £100 a year, subject to review on the 31st March, 1926.
  • £327 a year, including a disablement element of £100 a year, subject to review on the 13th November, 1926.
  • £198 10s. a year service retired pay. The disablement addition in this case has not yet been awarded, but is under consideration.

Men:

  • £125 1s. a year to 30th June, 1926.⋆
  • £101 9s. a year to 31st March, 1927.⋆

* Being subject in each case to further medical examination.

In the remaining two cases awards have presumably been made by the Ministry of Pensions.

Dr. V. DAVIES

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he has formed any opinion as to how the conditions of service have caused or contributed to the disease of pulmonary tuberculosis for which 14 officers and men were invalided out of the Service in the years 1923, 1924, and 1925, for conditions which have been decided as attributable to the Service; if pensions have been granted these officers and men on account of their disability; and, if not, what compensation has been given them?

Mr. DAVIDSON

I regret that on further investigation it is found that in seven cases only was the disease finally decided to be attributable to the service, and not 14 as implied by my reply of the 18th February (OFFICIAL REPORT, Column 2136). In five of these cases pension have been granted by the Admiralty. In the remaining two cases the disease was due to service in the War and the claims were accordingly dealt with by the Ministry of Pensions. The conditions of service causing the disease in these cases were:

  1. (a) Continuity of disease or allied diseases during service and aggravation by service in small craft.
  2. (b) Extraordinary exposure and hardship in submarine service.
  3. (c) Infection while nursing cases of pulmonary tuberculosis under exceptional exposure.

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