§ MR. HAROLD COXI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Clause 4, Section 3, of the Old-Age Pensions Bill, will render nugatory arrangements entered into before the passing of the Bill for a reduction of income in order to obtain a larger pension, such as the reduction of a compensation award recently made in a case before Judge Ruegg.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThe object of subsection (3) of Clause 4 of the Bill is to render nugatory such collusive arrangements for the reduction of a pensioners' income as those to which my hon. friend refers. With reference to the latter portion of the Question, my hon, friend appears to have been misinformed as to the action of Judge Ruegg. Since answering the Question put by my hon. friend on the 15th inst., I have received the following telegram from Judge Ruegg:—"With reference to Question asked by Mr. Harold Cox in House yesterday as to my action at Tunstall County Court, facts incorrectly stated. Man was not receiving compensation at all, but £100 was paid into Court in respect of death of his son. I had under the Act to apportion this. I was asked to give him £20 down to clear his debts and 12s. 6d. a week out of balance. I thought this too much and said so, and then 9s. 6d. was suggested and some remark made that this would not prejudice his rights if Old-Age Pensions Bill passed. I allowed 9s. 6d. solely because I thought it was maximum sum I could allow, having regard to the sum remaining in Court. Will you correct."
§ MR. HAROLD COXDoes the Judge deny that the man asked for a lower sum so that he might get the old-age pension?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI think not.