§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board if he was aware that the Dunmow sub-committee of the Essex local pension committee met in the board room of the union workhouse, and that claimants were summoned to that place to substantiate their claims; whether, in view of the undesirability of associating pensions with the poor law, he would request the sub-committee to find rooms elsewhere; and, owing to the likelihood that there were similar instances in the country, would he issue an order to all pension committees to the same effect?
§ Mr. BURNSI have no authority to issue such an order as is suggested. Though I agree that it is undesirable for the reasons to which my hon. Friend refers that the meetings of a pension committee or sub-committee should be held at a workhouse, there is nothing in the Old Age Pensions Act to prohibit the practice. I will communicate with the sub-committee on the subject.