§ 2. Mr. Leverasked the Minister of Pensions on what grounds a man, of whom particulars have been given, who lost both his legs as a result of injuries sustained whilst serving in the N.F.S. in 1942, was refused a pension in 1943; why, after lodging an appeal against this refusal, it required over seven months to decide to accept this man's claim; and why he now refuses to authorise the payment of arrears of pension accrued prior to the lodging of the appeal.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingThe amputation was necessitated not by injuries but by a disease which it was decided in August, 1943, was not aggravated by service in the National Fire Service. The man did not appeal against the decision until March, 1945. On receipt of the appeal further inquiries were made to see whether the disability could be connected with service and on receipt of additional medical evidence it was felt that the benefit of the doubt could be given and a pension awarded. The man has stated that two organisations could verify that he raised the question of appeal a considerable time before the appeal reached the Ministry. So far verification has not been forthcoming, but I am pursuing the matter, and in the light of the information I receive, I will consider the question whether pension should be made effective from a date earlier than the date of the appeal to my Department.