§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Mrs. Robina Dewar, of Seventeenth Street, Bowhill, was deprived of a blind persons' pension previously granted her on the appeal of the pension officer against the pensions sub-committee, on the grounds that she is not so blind as to be unable to perform any work for which eyesight is essential; and whether, as a private doctor certifies her as incapable of work through blindness and although she has had an operation on her eyes she registers no improvement, he will cause the claim to be reinvestigated?
§ Mr. E. BrownAn appeal by the pension officer against the decision of the local pension committee allowing Mrs. Dewar a blind pension was forwarded to my Department on 28th July. Mrs. Dewar had been examined by an experienced ophthalmic surgeon and certified not blind. After careful consideration of this surgeon's report and consultation with my medical advisers I saw no reason to take exception to the conclusion reached in the report. Accordingly I had no alternative but to sustain the pension officer's appeal and refuse the pension. Unless and until a new claim is made I regret that no further action can be taken in the matter.