HC Deb 16 October 1940 vol 365 cc708-9W
Mr. E. Smith

asked the Minister of Pensions why men have been discharged after suffering from amputation without being supplied with artificial limbs: are the provisions for the rehabilitation of disability cases in operation; have the arrangements for the training of disability cases in order to equip them for industry been made, and are they in operation; and will he make a full statement on these problems?

Sir W. Womersley

I am medically advised that a short interval should elapse between the healing of a stump and the fitting of an artificial limb. No good purpose is served by keeping the man in hospital during this time and he is accordingly discharged to his home, to which he is usually anxious to go, and is given a provisional pension at the 100 per cent. rate. As soon as the stump has settled down he is fitted with a limb at one of the Ministry's limb fitting centres. With regard to the second and third parts of the question, the initial stages of rehabilitation are carried out while in hospital, and an inter-departmental Conference convened by the Minister of Health has had under consideration the arrangements to be made for the completion of rehabilitation. A similar committee appointed by the Minister of Labour has been considering the arrangements for vocational training.

Mr. Smith

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) whether he will set out in tabular form the assessments for specific injuries to men who have served in the Armed Forces, stating the specific injury or disability, giving the assessment made in each specific case in 1919 and 1940, respectively, and the amount of pension paid in 1919 and 1940, in each case;

(2) whether he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the facts relating to pension assessments applicable to civilian casualties resulting from the war, giving specific examples and the amount of pension that will be received in each case?

Sir W. Womersley

The assessments for specific injuries due to Great War service are set out in the First Schedule to the Royal Warrant of 6th December, 1919. The assessments applicable to service casualties in the present war and to civilian casualties are those which have been applicable to service casualties since 1923; they are at present under revision by a committee of experts and it is possible that certain improvements may be made as a result of their recommendations.