§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Duncan M'Gregor, of Connel, Muckairn, a man over 80 years of age, who was granted a pension of 5s. a week, which was subsequently reduced to 2s. a week on the ground that his daughter, with whom he was staying, received for letting rooms the gross income of £27, from which she had to pay for her own board and wages; whether it is the habit of the Local Government Board for Scotland to add the earnings of daughters to the incomes of parents with whom they may be staying; and whether, if that be so, that rule is in accordance with statements on the subject made to this House during the progress of the Old Age Pensions Bill?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLAND (Mr. Arthur Dewar)The pension was reduced, not for the reason stated in the question, but because the house belonged to the claimant, and profits from letting must be considered part of his income. Deductions were made for the daughter's wages during last season. The Board do not, as suggested in the question, add the earnings of daughters to the income of parents in the same house.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDHas independent inquiry been made as to the facts stated in the reply?
§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDAnd was it found that all those statements are contradicted?