§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that if a member of His Majesty's forces is passed fit for active service and is subsequently discharged on medical grounds this does not of itself entitle him to a pension under the Royal Warrant; and whether, in view of the increase in the number of such cases and the fact that many cannot continue in their occupation prior to enlistment, he will have the matter reviewed?
§ Sir W. WomersleyA disability pension can be awarded to an ex-member of His2172W Majesty's Forces only if the disability is certified by my medical advisers to be either directly attributable to service or materially aggravated thereby. I reviewed this matter last year and, as I informed the House, I came to the conclusion that, if a man was definitely classed as fit on recruitment or mobilisation and effective service caused a degree of aggravation in a previously existing condition, the fact of discharge resulting from that condition would justify me in regarding the aggravation as material and thus bringing the case within the scope of the Royal Warrant. There are some cases in which it is not possible to certify that service has caused any worsening, but I know of no evidence that their number is increasing, and I am not prepared to abandon the principle that war disablement pension can only be given for a disability which is connected with war service.