§ Major Procterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the inconvenience to old pensioners in the compulsion to obtain signatures of responsible citizens on the forms required for any change over in pension pay-books as well as the annoyance which often results from such visitation for signatures to those who are asked to sign; and whether some better system can be introduced by diminishing or eliminating this cumbrous procedure?
§ Sir K. WoodThe purpose of the procedure to which' my hon. Friend refers is to secure periodically independent evidence that the person applying for renewal of the order book is in fact the pensioner entitled to it, and that the pensioner has not become disqualified by reason of change of circumstances since the previous order book was issued. It has been in force for a number of years in connection with pension payments of all kinds. The classes of person qualified to certify offer the pensioner a wide range of choice, and I am not aware of any procedure which would provide this necessary safeguard with less inconvenience.