§ MR. NIELD (Middlesex, Ealing)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that cases of hardship have arisen to applicants for an old-age pension being refused owing to their having resided for a short period in a British Colony during the twenty years preceding their application, though they are otherwise able to comply with all the requirements of the Act and the Departmental regulations; and whether he is prepared to take or advise the taking of steps to amend the law so as to permit such applicants to receive the pension.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The Old-Age Pensions Act requires as a condition of receiving a pension that the claimant shall have resided for twenty years in the United Kingdom up to the date of the receipt of any sum on account of the pension. I will take note of the point raised in the Question, but I cannot promise any amendment of the Act with regard to it.