§ Mr. PIELOUasked the Minister of Pensions whether his atention has been drawn to the case of H. W. Manning, of the Leicester Regiment, who was severely wounded during the War and who still has a piece of shrapnel in his head; whether he is aware that this man was sentenced to 11 months' hard labour, on he 19th January, by the Recorder of London, for forgery, despite the fact that expert evidence Was given to the effect that the war wound might have been sufficient to account for the crime, and 269W that both the Recorder and the medical authorities agreed that what Manning really required was restraint and suggestive treatment; and whether he has discussed with the Secretary of State for the Home Department the possibility of providing treatment in some institution where disabled men who break the law through the effect of their war experiences, but who are not insane, can be treated, in order that Manning may get the expert treatment which is not provided in prison?
§ Major TRYONMy attention has already been directed to this case, which has also been considered by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Home Affairs. I have no authority to provide treatment except for a condition which can be accepted as attributable to or aggravated by service, and I am advised that Mr. Manning does not require treatment for his pensionable disability. The facts of the particular case mentioned do not appear to me to warrant the wide extension of my powers suggested in the last part of the question.