asked the Minister of Pensions on what ground the application of Mr. Arthur Wild, 3, Bromley Street, Coldhurst, Oldham (Reference 3/MW/5578), who sustained a gunshot wound in Gallipoli in the 1914–18 war and as a result lost his speech and hearing and was granted a pension, and who has now suffered a recurrence of loss of speech and hearing, is being refused a restoration of his pension.

Mr. Wild did not sustain a gunshot wound. On demobilisation a provisional pension was issued whilst further inquiries were being made. A medical board early in 1920 could find no disability, and pension ceased. Mr. Wild suffered a temporary loss of speech and hearing in 1916, but this was purely functional. He recovered and there was no such defect on demobilisation in 1919, nor on examination in 1920. In 1942, he made an application in respect of his speech and hearing, and, as the hon. Member was informed in a letter of 21st February last, it is regretted that Mr. Wild's present condition must be regarded as unrelated to his war service.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this man was wounded at Gallipoli, that he has been in nine hospitals suffering from loss of speech and hearing, that he had a pension, that he recovered, and that he has now precisely the same symptoms? Is he aware that no medical man out of Bedlam could say that there was no relation between the present symptoms and those which the man had in 1916?

I would remind my hon. Friend that at one date the man himself firmly said that he was not wounded, but suffered from scarlet fever and concussion while in Gallipoli. It is not true that he was wounded in Gallipoli, but if my hon. Friend has any further information in his possession I shall be glad to consider it.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this man lost his speech and hearing in the trenches in Gallipoli, and that his Ministry asked me for the evidence of someone who saw what happened in 1915? I found that evidence, and now this man has been refused a pension on the ground that he did not see shrapnel enter his head.

My hon. Friend is trying to put another construction on the case. I have evidence here that does not support the man's claim in the least.