§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has considered the full statement of the case of Mr. F. Wenham, of Maidstone, submitted to him in correspondence by the hon. Member for the Maidstone Division; whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Wenham's injuries have been incurred in the public service and that he has been totally incapacitated from 19th March, 1927, inquiry has been made into his injury allowance being reassessed at only 7s. 10d. a week and into the allegation of being kept waiting for long periods for any payment; and whether directions will be given for a complete settlement on an adequate basis?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANMr. Wenham first suffered from occupational disease in December, 1923, and he has been given treatment in a naval hospital on more than one occasion since that date. It is not admitted that he has been totally incapacitated since the 19th March, 1927, but compensation allowance has been paid at varying rates according to the degree of incapacity. The rate of 7s. 10d. a week has been authorised as from the 28th November, 1928, in the view that the incapacity remaining was slight, but in the absence of agreement with the man and his advisers, the question has been referred recently to the Treasury medical referee, whose report is awaited.