§ Mr. KEATINGasked the Chief Secretary if he will issue, for the information of pension committees, a circular prescribing 900 the basis of calculation which obtains in the Local Government Board for determining the means of claimants for pensions who may be in possession of a portion of land, in order to prevent committees from wasting time considering claims for pensions which a pension officer, through his instructions or the Local Government Board, on appeal, decides against, notwithstanding any decision given by the pension committees as to means?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIf the hon. Member will refer to the statement on page 13 of the Annual Report of the Local Government Board, which has recently been presented to Parliament, he will see that this matter is by no means a simple one, and that the Board have made and are making careful investigations as to the profits of holdings in all parts of Ireland with a view of fixing some fair basis of calculation. In these circumstances it would obviously be premature to issue a circular as suggested.
§ Mr. CULLINANMay I ask when we may expect these investigations to be completed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am afraid I cannot give any definite answer. It will be as early as possible.