asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view, of recent representations, he is inquiring into the case of Lance-Corporal Mace, suffering from acute poliomyelitis, said to have been contracted during military service in India?

All the evidence submitted in support of this case has been fully considered, and my medical advisers are satisfied that the disability is not due to military service. In these circumstances, I regret that no award of pension can be made.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that another soldier of the same regiment at the same station and suffering from the same disease—suffering from the same disease three months earlier—has been pensioned by the Ministry of Pensions?

Yes, I believe that that is the case, but each case has to be judged on its own merits. This case has been considered by my medical advisers, and they are quite certain that it is not attributable to service and is not comparable in any way with the previous case to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers.