§ Mr. Goldieasked the Minister of Pensions whether, on the complete recovery and consequent cessation of pension payable to a person serving in His Majesty's forces who has recovered damages from a civilian in respect of injuries sustained whilst on duty through the negligence of such civilian, the amount of moneys deducted from the pension of such person during the period of incapacity is repaid to such person so injured, or whether the amount so deducted is retained by his Department thereby depriving the injured person of any compensation awarded in respect of pain and suffering?
§ Sir W. WomersleyWhile the negligent third party should not escape the financial consequences of his negligence, the injured serving member cannot, on the other hand, expect to be compensated, whether for pain and suffering or for a continuing impairment, from two sources in respect of the same accident. Accordingly, on the cessation of the pension on the injured person's recovery no repayment is made to him of the partial deduction made during the currency of the pension, but I cannot agree that this practice has the effect suggested by the hon. Member in the second part of the Question, particularly in view of the fact that, as I explained in my answer of 9th September, 1942, to the hon. Member for Moss Side (Mr. Rostron Duckworth) a proportion of any damages awarded is disregarded in the calculation of their annuity value. I see no grounds for modifying these existing arrangements.