§ MR. KETTLE (Tyrone, E.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the practice in the administration of the Old-Age Pensions Act for the pensions officer to submit every claim and his report on it to the supervisor; whether, in the case of a difference of opinion between the pensions officer and the supervisor as to the validity of a claim, the views of both or only one of them are laid before the pensions committee; and whether, if such differences of opinion should delay the granting of a pension in the case of a claim ultimately held to be good, any provision will be made to recoup to the pensioner the moneys of which he has been deprived by the delay.
§ MR. HOBHOUSE (for Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE)All claims are submitted to the pensions committee by the pensions officer who has carried out the investigation, through the supervisor, who is the superior pensions officer in charge of the district. No case of ultimate difference of opinion between these officers has been brought to the notice of the Board of Inland Revenue. If such a case arose, it would be resolved in ordinary official course, and the final opinion of the supervisor would be the basis of the report to the committee. It is not anticipated that any delay in granting pensions will arise out of this procedure.