17.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, a member of the armed forces may be awarded, in respect of any period during which he receives treatment and as a result of such treatment he incurs a loss of earnings, a treatment allowance at the rate of retired pay or pension which would be payable if the degree of his disablement were 100 per cent.
(2) A member who is not normally in employment or who is retired from employment, shall not be entitled to a treatment allowance in respect of treatment which, if he were normally in employment, would in the opinion of the Secretary of State involve no or only occasional interruptions of that employment.