§ Mr. CECIL WILSONasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that E. Conroy, 5, Pickering Street, Carbrook, Sheffield, who was discharged from the Army on the 21st January, 1920, consulted his panel doctor on the day of his discharge and obtained his certificate fer 1857W gastritis, clearly indicating that at that date there was stomach trouble; that on the 16th December, 1924., he, underwent an operation and a duodenal ulcer was proved to exist; that his symptoms persisted and were described, on 6th August, 1925, as neurosis, and he was granted 50 per cent, disability for gastric neurosis; that on the 30th November, 1925, he under went a further operation, when it was discovered that an ulcer was present, and not healed, and that hence the diagnosis of neurosis was wrong; and whether, under the circumstances, which strongly suggest that the disease was due to Army service, the case can be reopened.
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYMr. Conroy first made a claim on the Ministry in respect of gastric trouble in 1925, but after full consideration, it was decided by the Ministry that his condition was neither attributable to nor aggravated by his war service. This decision was confirmed in November last by the Independent Appeal Tribunal to which he appealed. The certificate from the man's panel doctor to which the hon. Member refers was given nearly a year after the termination of Mi. Conroy's active service, as he had returned to civil life in February, 1979, although temporarily retained in the -Reserve. This certificate, together with all other evidence regarding the case, was before the Tribunal at the time of the herring. I have had the case carefully reviewed in consequence of representations made to me by the hon. Member; but I would point out that the medical report which he forwarded to me from a doctor definitely stated that the conditions of military service had no material effect in producing Mr. Conroy's present disability. After full consideration I can find no grounds for taking any further action in this case.