§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will initiate a review of the tables of assessments for specific injuries in cases of disablement.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonNo. These assessments were recommended by an expert Committee under Judge Hancock which went into the matter fully in 1946. I do not think there have been any developments since which would justify a review.
§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he 191W will amend the present system of compensation for disabled ex-Servicemen which is dependent upon a measurement of the remaining stump of the affected limb, in view of the fact that whilst the retention of a small proportion of useless stump makes no difference to ability to earn a livelihood, it may mean a difference of 12s. a week in the compensation paid.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonNo. The basis of assessment of disability for awards of war pension as laid down in the Royal Warrants is the comparison between the condition of the man as disabled by service and the condition of a normal healthy person of the same age. The appropriate assessments for limb amputations were laid down by an expert Committee under Judge Hancock. The Committee gave their reasons, which have lost none of their force, in paragraphs 9 to 22 of their Report.
The basic disability pension, assessed in this way, is not designed to compensate for loss of earning power in any particular occupation. Provision for that contingency is made by way of separate allowances supplementary to the basic pension.