§ Mr. STEPHENasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that treatment allowances are not granted to the dependants of an ex-service disabled man who is undergoing hospital treatment, who was unemployed before he went into hospital, even though his unemployment was in a large measure due to his disability; and whether he will take steps to have treatment allowances granted in every case while the man is in hospital for treatment?
§ Mr. F. O. ROBERTSMy hon. Friend is perhaps under some misapprehension. The special allowances referred to are payable only where the patient has incurred loss by having to give up a remunerative occupation in consequence of the treatment. Nevertheless, the allow 1609W ances are payable to a man who is in hospital, if he is shown to be ordinarily a worker and dependent for the support of himself and his family upon his earnings, even though he may have been temporarily unemployed at the commencement of treatment. There would be no authority for the payment of these allowances to men whose ability to support themselves and their families is in no way adversely affected by their treatment.