§ Mr. ARTHUR LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that Mrs. Catherine Murphy, of Cahermurphy, Kilmihil, was granted a pension in November, 1908, on the basis of a favourable report as to age and means from the pension officer; that after she had been in receipt of this pension from 1st January to 1st May of this year a question was raised by the pension officer under Regulation 17 (2); that the sole question raised 14 was as to age, and that this question was submitted to the pension committee on 24th May last; that the pension committee decided in favour of the continuance of the pension on the ground of age; that the pension officer appealed against this decision; whether the Local Government Board was satisfied that Mrs. Murphy had attained the necessary age; whether the Board reduced her pension to 3s. weekly on the ground of means; and whether the Local Government Board is entitled to decide on these grounds a case submitted to their consideration for another reason?
§ Mr. CHERRYI understand that the facts are as stated in the question. The Local Government Board considered that the means of Mrs. Murphy, as calculated for the purposes of the Act, were about 10s. a week; and they accordingly determined that the amount of the pension she was entitled to receive was 3s. a week. The Board hold that when a claim comes before them on appeal they are bound to satisfy themselves that all the statutory conditions have been fulfilled and that they are not confined to the consideration of the particular point upon which the appeal was submitted. The question whether this view is correct is the subject of an appeal now pending in the Court of Appeal.