§ Mr. COMPTONasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that at a medical board held at Liverpool on 10th December, 1928, a pensioner was questioned as to whether he was drawing the dole or had ever drawn the dole, and whether he was drawing or had ever drawn health insurance benefit; for what reason do medical officers, who presumably base their assessment on the physical condition of the pensioner, ask questions relating to unemployment insurance benefit and national health insurance
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§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have been asked to reply. The following table gives the information for which the hon. Member asks.
benefit; and if action will be taken to stop questions of this character being put in future?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for the Elland Division (Mr. Robinson) on 4th December last. Assessment of pension is under the Royal Warrants required to be based on the degree of disablement, and this involves ascertainment of the effect of the particular ailment or injury on function. In certain cases the physical symptoms, as evident on a single inspection, are not conclusive on this point, and information has to be sought as to the man's actual experience of disablement. Any questions put by a board as to the man's health or unemployment are directed solely to elucidating the facts as to the extent and character of the disablement or increased disablement claimed to be experienced by the pensioner, and it is obviously as much in the man's interest as in any other that the facts should be evidenced. In no case, I need hardly add, is any inquiry made as to the amount of benefit drawn or wages earned.