§ SIR FRANCIS CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the anomalies that have arisen in the administration of the Old-age Pensions Act, he will appoint a small Departmental Committee to consider and report at the earliest moment what changes in the Act or Regulations, or both, will secure more reasonably the intentions of the Act, so that modified Regulations may be issued or an Amendment of the Act may be passed at the beginning of next session.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Most of the criticisms as to the working of the Act which have been brought to my notice have reference to substantive statutory provisions, which have not been, and cannot be, affected by the issue of Regulations; and the more important of them involve considerations of policy and finance which I do not think could usefully be dealt with by a Departmental Committee. These points are receiving the careful consideration of the Government.