Mr. T. F. RICHARDSasked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that an old lady who applied for a pension to the Arbroath pension committee has been refused on the ground that her income exceeds £31 10s., the fact being that this lady lives with her married daughter whose husband is in receipt of more than £200 per year, and for the domestic services rendered by the mother the daughter allows her board and lodging; whether he is aware that board and lodging is ob- 1666 tained in Arbroath for domestics at 6s. per week; and whether he can take any action in this matter?
§ Mr. UREI am aware that an old lady resident in Arbroath, to whose case, no doubt, my hon. Friend refers, has been refused a pension on the grounds mentioned in the question. The decision of the pension committee in this case was confirmed, on appeal, by the Local Government Board. I have no power to take any action in the matter, the decision of the Local Government Board being final. But I may inform my hon. friend that I considered the facts of the case, and I saw no reason whatever to differ from the view taken by the pension committee and the Local Government Board. I am not aware that board and lodging is obtained in Arbroath for domestics at 6s. per week. But, even if that were so, it would in no way affect the decision arrived at in the present case.