HC Deb 10 December 1936 vol 318 cc2173-4W
Mr. T. MORRIS

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can state the number of men who have been in receipt of disability pensions for some period since 1918 but who are not now in receipt of pensions; and how many of these men have unsuccessfully made application for the renewal of their pensions?

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

I regret that the Ministry's records do not enable me to give these particulars with any degree of accuracy.

Sir R. YOUNG

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that Thomas Llewellyn Jones, J.X. 133,460, joined the Royal Navy as a boy telegraphist in August, 1929, and from August, 1931, was engaged for a period of 12 years; that up to 1935 his character, efficiency, and health were good; that in 1935 he was passed as Al for joining His Majesty's ship "Cairo," from the Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham; and whether, under these circumstances, he will explain why his illness, reported sick June, 1935, was attributed not due to naval service and why he was discharged as physically unfit and without pension?

Lord STANLEY

The facts concerning this rating's service in the Royal Navy are substantially as stated in the question. A naval pension could only be granted to a man of such short service if his illness were found to have been caused by some abnormal condition of his naval service; the naval medical authorities after careful investigation, are unable to certify that this requirement has been fulfilled in this instance. It would not be enough merely to find that the illness had arisen during the period of service.