§ 89. Sir J. Lucasasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps she takes to ensure that all doctors who medically examine war disability pensioners or claimants for war disability 21W on behalf of her Department are aware that whereas an ex-Service man of the 1939–45 war has a statutory right of appeal to an independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal and to the production of all medical reports on his case, an ex-Service man of 1914 and earlier wars has no such right and his medical records are held by the Department; and if she will take action to remedy the situation.
§ Miss HerbisonDoctors who carry out war pensions medical examinations for my Department have access to the complete medical records in each case and their manual of guidance refers to the appeal position. Any decision taken in the light of their advice is made in the full knowledge of this position. As the hon. and gallant Member knows, it has long been accepted that it would not be practicable now to revive for 1914 war disablement pensioners formal appeal rights which expired many years ago.