§ Sir J. Smedley Crookeasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will take steps to ascertain the number of war-disabled pensioners who are not in employment, and the extent to which this may he attributed to the industrial handicap arising from the war disability, bearing in mind that 30,000 are registered at the Labour Exchanges as unemployed; that a substantial number deemed unfit for employment are in receipt of public assistance; that a further substantial number are deriving no benefit from public assistance; and that 10,400 whose incomes are below £160 per annum are known to have lapsed from benefit under the National Health Insurance Scheme?
§ Mr. RamsbothamFrom the figures supplied to me by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, I do not think that the results obtained from the measures already in existence to secure suitable employment for war-disabled pensioners can be regarded as unsatisfactory. The figure of 30,000 represents 7.8 per cent. of the estimated number of men in receipt of disability pensions and allowances in October, 1938, whilst the percentage rate of unemployment among all insured men in Great Britain at approximately the same date was 14.
The hon. Member is no doubt aware that as recently as 5th December the 2911W Minister of Labour received a deputation from the British Legion on the subject of the employment of ex-service men when various proposals were considered. As regards war-disabled pensioners, I am constantly in touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, and their interests in the employment field are being carefully watched.
With regard to the last part of the question, I am equally alive to the necessity of safeguarding a pensioner's position under the National Health Insurance Scheme, and the Contributory Pensions (Voluntary Contributors) Act, 1937, and in this connection I would invite the hon. Member's attention to the reply on this subject which I gave in the House on 21st November, 1938.
Miss Cazaletasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mr. A. Connatty, of 61, Canonbury Avenue, N. 1, is in possession of a further medical certificate from the Ministry of Health supporting the views of his own doctor that his present condition is due to shell-shock; and whether he is prepared to give further consideration to this case?
§ Mr. RamsbothamAs the hon. Member is probably aware, Mr. Connatty was pensioned for some years in respect of neurasthenia, which was not considered directly due to his war service but was held to have been aggravated thereby. In 1926 the disablement fell to a degree for which pension was no longer appropriate, and a terminal grant was made in final settlement of compensation for the effects of war service.
Ten years later, Mr. Connatty was reported to be suffering from neurasthenia in a more acute form, but after carefully considering the history of the case, my medical advisers were unable to regard the worsening of the trouble as having any connection with war service and it was, therefore, not possible for my Department to accept further liability. This decision was reviewed several times without any grounds being found for departing from it. Finally, I remitted the case to a specialist nominated by the Royal College of Physicians for an independent opinion, and after personally examining Mr. Connatty and reviewing all the documentary evidence in the possession of the Ministry, the specialist fully endorsed the decision.
2912WIn view of the exhaustive consideration already given to the case, I am afraid I cannot entertain the suggestion of a further review.
§ Sir J. Smedley Crookeasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider the advisability of notifying disability pensioners that, in cases where there is unemployment with no entitlement to unemployment insurance benefit or unemployment assistance, there may be entitlement to local public assistance, and that, under the Poor Law Act of 1934, the first 20s. of the disability pension must be disregarded by public assistance committees in determining the amount of the pensioner's resources for the purpose of assistance?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI have no reason to think that disability pensioners are not as well aware as other persons of the general conditions governing the grant of public assistance. In any event it would not be appropriate that for the sake of the small number affected I should make an announcement on this subject to all pensioners irrespective of their circumstances.