§ Captain CLIVEasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in the case of a wife who is disqualified from receiving an old age pension only because 1080 her husband has had 2s. 6d. a week outdoor relief, the death of the husband will enable her to establish her claim?
§ The PRESIDENT Of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)The death of the husband of a claimant disqualified on the ground mentioned in the question would not affect the disqualification. Under Section 3 of the Old Age Pensions Act it would continue until 31st December, 1910, unless Parliament otherwise determines.
§ Mr. O'DOHERTYasked the Chief Secretary if he can state why Edward Rodden, Terhillion, Termon, county Donegal, was deprived of the old age pension; whether he is aware that this applicant is over 70 years of age, as can be proved by the certificate of the parish priest and by sworn testimony; and whether, seeing that the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851 are in many cases unreliable, he will take steps to have the pension allowed to this applicant?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board upheld the pension officer's appeal in this case as the claimant failed to prove that he had reached the statutory age. The parish priest certified that the claimant was married in 1885, and added that he stated that he was then 46 years of age, but no evidence was furnished in support of this statement. The claimant's parents and their family were traced in the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851, but his name did not appear in either year. It will be open to him to make a fresh claim when he can furnish trustworthy evidence that he has reached the statutory age.
§ Mr. PATRICK O'BRIEN (for Mr. O'Doherty)asked the Chief Secretary on what grounds were the old age pensions which were being paid to James M'Getttigan and Mary Jane M'Gettigan, his wife, of Carrowmena, Moville, county Donegal, whose respective ages are 84 and 75 years, discontinued; what are the means of these parties; what is the nature, extent, valuation, and rent of the farm on which they live; on whose, and what, information were the pensions discontinued; and whether he will take steps to ascertain the true facts and have the pensions allowed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board upheld the pension officer's appeal in these cases on the ground that the claimants' means exceeded the statutory limit. The husband was reported by the pension officer to be in occupation of a farm with a stock of five cows, some calves, 1081 seven or eight other cattle, two horses, and 50 sheep. It was also reported that he kept a threshing mill, and sold a large quantity of turf which alone was estimated to bring in about £15 a year. The rent of the farm was £5 a year, and the Poor Law valuation the same. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision.