HC Deb 19 July 1909 vol 8 c7
Mr. GWYNN

asked the President of the Local Government Board if the Local Government Board in England has in any case disallowed the recommendation of a pension committee upon the adverse report of a pension officer, except where the officer has been able to produce actual proof in support of his view?

The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. J. Burns)

In any case in which an appeal is made to the Local Government Board by a pension officer against the decision of the local pensions committee, the Board obtain from the committee a statement of the grounds of their decision and form the best judgment they can with regard to the matter. They give due weight to the opinion of the committee, but they are not always able to arrive at the same conclusion as the committee, even although the pension officer is not able to produce actual proof in support of his view. There are cases in which actual proof cannot be given either one way or the other.