§ MR. JOYNSON-HICKS (Manchester, N.W.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Mrs. Fanny Royster, of Ancoats, Manchester, aged seventy-one, has been refused an old-age pension because she was sent to the workhouse hospital in May last by her doctor, owing to a severe attack of pneumonia; whether such refusal is in accordance with the Old-Ago Pension Act, if so, whether he can see his way to give her a compassionate allowance; and whether he will take steps early next session to remedy this grievance.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI have not received particulars of the case referred to, but the question whether disqualification would or would not arise in such circumstances would depend upon the precise facts of the case, upon which the decision rests with the local pension 1577 committee, subject to appeal to the Local Government Board. I have no power to grant compassionate allowances to disqualified applicants for pensions, and, until the precise application of the existing disqualification has been determined on appeal, it would be premature to consider the question of amending it by legislation.