§ MR. HUNT (Shropshire, Ludlow)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the fact that in some country districts rural district councils have been in the habit of keeping on old men of long service from charitable motives at higher wages than they were really worth, and that they are now about to reduce their wages to the point at which they are eligible for the full 5s. pension, he will say if these men will be entitled to receive pensions.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaThe facts to which the hon. Member calls attention would not, in my opinion, render these persons ineligible for pensions under the Old-Age Pensions Act. The circumstances of each case would, of course, have to be onsidered.