§ Major Nieldasked the Minister of Health if he will consider extending to crippled persons benefits similar to those now given to blind persons.
§ Mr. WillinkThe question of assisting persons, such as the blind or cripples, who suffer from permanent disablement, whether total or partial, is engaging the attention of the Government in connection with the proposals in the Beveridge Report. The aim of the Government is to rehabilitate them wherever possible. In so far as hospital treatment will remedy or alleviate the condition, or, better still, prevent its occurrence, the measures already taken by hospitals will, I hope, be developed on the lines of the Memorandum on the Organisation of a Hospital Rehabilitation Department which I issued last week. I may also remind my hon. and gallant Friend that provision for the training and employment of persons with disabilities of this kind is made in the Disabled Persons (Employment) Bill now before Parliament.