§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mr. W. Pritchard, of 136, New Barn Street, Canning Town, E.16, was discharged from the Army on the 1st April, 1916, through deafness caused by the War; that his pension is reduced to 8d. per day; that in 1910 he completed 16 years military service, six of which were spent abroad in various campaigns and eight years in the Army Reserve; that he volunteered for active service in 1914 and was accepted; and that he served in campaigns in the South African War and was in the attack upon Pieters Hill and at the seige of Ladysmith; and if he will consider whether the man's pension can be increased?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYThe deafness which led to Mr. Pritchard's discharge from the Army in 1916 was held to be neither attributable to nor aggravated by service in the Great War, and this finding was upheld, on appeal, by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, whose decision is final. He is, consequently, not eligible for any award of disablement pension under the Ministry Warrants. As, however, his total service with the Colours and Army Reserve amounted to over 14 years and he was finally discharged on medical grounds, he was entitled to a pension of 8d. a day for life under Article 1163 of the Royal Warrant of 1914, but there is no authority under which this can be increased.