§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board if he has had the case of John Thompson, of Blackburn, a claimant for an old age pension, under consideration on an appeal by the pension officer; is he aware that the pension committee granted his pension, and that the grounds of the pension officer's appeal are that the claimant, who is an Army pensioner, has received advances from the guardians which are repaid in full out of his Army pension every quarter; and if this is disqualifying poor law relief?
§ Mr. BURNSI have received an appeal from the pension officer against the decision of the pension committee allowing a pension in this case, and I am in communication with the guardians on the subject. Until all the facts are before me I cannot express an opinion on the particular case, but I may say generally that I am advised that where poor relief has been given the repayment of the cost does not remove the disqualification caused by its receipt.
§ Mr. SNOWDENDoes it apply to a case where the guardians simply make an advance to an army pensioner and the advance is deducted from the pension?
§ Mr. BURNSThat depends on whether the guardians act simply as a medium of communication from the pension officer to the pensioner. There are circumstances when advances assume the form of outdoor relief.