§ 153. Miss Baconasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among war pensioners and ex-Service organisations about constitutional cases; and if he will publish the evidence submitted to him on which he decides which diseases and complaints are regarded as constitutional.
§ Brigadier SmythMy right hon. Friend is not aware of any general dissatisfaction of the kind suggested. He does not decide whether or not a disease is constitutional, his concern is whether the condition is due to or aggravated by service and the Pensions Instruments require that this question shall be decided in accordance with the certificate of a medical officer or board of medical officers appointed for the purpose or where there is a serious doubt or difficulty by an independent medical expert. The fact that a disease is constitutional does not prevent my right hon. Friend admitting entitlement to pension if he is medically advised that the condition has been aggravated by service.