§ MR. ARTHUR HENDERSONTo ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the intention of the Government that the administration of the Old-Age Pensions Act was to be dissociated directly and indirectly from the administration of the Poor Law, whether his attention has been called to the administration of the Act in the urban district of Wellington, Somerset, where the pensions subcommittee holds its meetings at the union workhouse, the clerk to the committee is clerk to the guardians, and six members of the sub-committee are guardians; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any steps to secure that the intention of the Government shall be carried out.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI agree with the hon. Member that it is highly undesirable that a pensions sub-committee should hold its meetings at a union workhouse, but there are no provisions in the Act which would prevent them doing so if they think fit. I hope, however, that this practice will not become general. The members of sub-committees are appointed, under subsection 2 of Section 8 of the Act, by the local pension committee, and I have no power to interfere in the matter.