§ Mr. JEREMIAH MacVEAGHasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can 543 state on what grounds the pensions officer at Dungannon, county Tyrone, objected to the baptismal certificate of John Taggart, Wooder House, Derryloughan; whether he is aware that the clergyman of the parish testified to the accuracy of the certificate; whether he can state what grounds the pensions officer had for doubing its accuracy, and on what authority or instructions he acted; and whether he will instruct this officer that, when a baptismal certificate is forthcoming, it may henceforth be presumed that the date of birth preceded the date of baptism?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe baptismal certificate in question, which was no doubt given by the clergyman in good faith, was found to be in conflict with the evidence of age given by the Census Returns, and on appeal by the pension officer against the decision of the pension committee allowing the pension, the Local Government Board decided that the claimant was not entitled to a pension.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs it not a fact that the Census which was consulted was taken about 40 years after the man was born, and has the right hon. Gentleman any reasons for doubt that the date of the man's birth preceded the date of the baptism?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI have no information on that point.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIn view of the various eccentricities of these officers I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he cannot see his way to transfer these gentlemen to some sphere where the exercise of common sense would not be necessary—the House of Lords, for example.
§ Mr. PATRICK O'BRIEN (for Mr. Vincent Kennedy)asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state how many old-age pensioners have been prosecuted for obtaining a pension when disqualified by reason of having received out-door relief; has he received any protests against these prosecutions on the ground that the pensioner had not his or her attention called to this particular disqualification; what is the average cost of these prosecutions; what is the result of a successful prosecution to the pensioner; and will this matter be at once considered with a view to avoiding further suffering to poor old people?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThirteen persons have been prosecuted for the offence in question. I am not aware that any protests have been received against these prosecutions, nor could any just protest be made, as in each case the attention of the pensioner had been specially directed to the disqualification before the false representation was made. The costs of the prosecutions vary according to circumstances. In the case of a successful prosecution, the pensioners convicted have been bound over, fined, or imprisoned. I see no sufficient reason why misrepresentations of this character should be treated differently from misrepresentations with regard to other matters more particularly as the disqualification on the ground of past receipt of poor relief is not one of a permanent character.
§ Mr. PATRICK O'BRIEN (on behalf of Mr. Vincent Kennedy)asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he has received a copy of a resolution from the Cavan (No. 1) old age pensions sub-committee, and passed unanimously, protesting against the methods pursued by the Treasury in administering the Old Age Pensions Act there; has he given the same his consideration; and is it intended to desist from the present methods of administration to which objection is taken, with a view to avoiding hardship and injustice to the aged poor?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe answer to the first two questions is in the affirmative. The complaints made in the resolution are of a general character, and, so far as I am aware, without foundation; but if the committee are in a position to bring up specific instances in which claimants have been unfairly treated careful inquiry will be made.