HC Deb 24 November 1908 vol 197 cc105-7
MR. BARNES (Glasgow, Blackfriars)

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that papers are being issued to tradesmen in the South of London from the pension officer of the Inland Revenue Office asking for information concerning the characters of applicants for old-age pensions, and as to whether they always worked according to their ability to support those dependent upon them; is there anything in the instructions to justify such inquiries; and will he see that pension officers are prevented in future from bringing discredit on the Old-Age Pensions Act.

MR. LLOYD-GEORGE

It is the statutory duty of the pension officer to satisfy himself that a claimant is not subject to disqualification under Section 3 (1) (b) of the Act, and, under Nos. 5 and 6 of the Instructions to pension officers as to investigation of claims, which form the Second Schedule of the Regulations, he is authorised to reduce to writing any question which he desires to put to any person, and is required to take all reasonable steps to obtain the best evidence and information which it is reasonably possible to obtain and to make all such inquiries as appear to him necessary having regard to the circumstances of the case.

MR. BARNES

Does this instruction apply to women applicants for pensions as to character?

MR. LLOYD-GEORGE

It would certainly apply to all applicants for pensions.

MR. BARNES

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that pension officers are inquiring as to the character of applicants for pensions, notwithstanding that such applicants have been members of friendly societies for, in some cases, fifty years; and will he take steps to see that such officers be instructed to keep within the limits of the provisions of the Old-Age Pensions Act.

MR. LLOYD-GEORGE

I have received no complaints as to the way in which pension officers are discharging their duties in the matter. If the hon. Member has a specific case in mind, I shall be happy to have it looked into if he will give me the particulars.