§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, in view of the rule that old age pension officers cannot themselves disallow a pension granted by a pension committee, but must refer the matter to the Local Government Board for decision, and in view of the importance of the Census Returns, and the promise that they would be examined in each case without expense to the applicant, if he will say on whose authority pensions so granted are disallowed in Ireland in cases in which the Returns have not been examined; and whether he will direct an examination in each of these cases?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The Local Government Board are not aware of any cases of disallowance of pensions in the circumstances mentioned. If the hon. Member will furnish particulars of any definite case it will be inquired into.
§ Mr. GINNELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I and other hon. Members have letters from the Local Government Board stating that the Census Returns have not been examined?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir. I am not aware of it.
§ Mr. GINNELLI have them here.
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am not aware of it. In every case the matter has been referred to the Census Returns. Sometimes upon examination the evidence has proved insufficient.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he could say on what ground the Local Government Board deprived James King, of Tulligoline, Templeglantine, county Limerick, of a pension, although the local sub-committee awarded it to him?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board upheld the Pension Officer's appeal in this case on the ground that the pensioner had not reached the statutory age. According to the Census Returns his parents were married in 1839 but had no children living in 1841, one daughter aged six months having died in 1840, and another aged three months having died in 1841.
§ Mr. CULLINAN (for Mr. Scanlan)asked the Chief Secretary if he would state on what grounds the old age pension granted to Michael Kenny by the Carney subcommittee of the county Sligo pension committee had been withdrawn; and, if on the question of means, how the Local Government Board arrived at the calculation of the applicant's means?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe pension was disallowed in this case on the ground that the means of the pensioner exceeded £31 10s. per annum. The Local Government Board found that his holding was well cropped and carried five head of cattle and a horse, besides a pig and fowl. In addition to the profits of the farm, the pensioner makes several pounds a year from a post-car.
§ Mr. GORDONasked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that in January, 1908, an old age pension was granted to Mary Nelson, of Mullinabrow, county Derry; that this pension was recently objected to, and the local pension committee, after hearing the objection, confirmed the pension; and that the pension officer appealed to the Local Government Board, who disallowed the pension, though her name appeared on the Census Returns of 1841 as being then twelve years of age; and whether he could state the grounds upon which the Board disallowed the pension, and will he direct that a reinvestigation of the case should be held?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that the sub-committee disallowed the question raised by the pension officer in this case because they considered their former decision as final. The pension officer then appealed to the Local Government Board, who upheld his appeal on the ground that 1392 the pensioner's family were traced in the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851, and that her age was recorded in the latter as being only ten years. The Board were satisfied from the Census records relating to the family and from the pensioner's own statement as to the order in age of her brothers and sisters that the name "Mary" in the Census Return of 1841 was a mistake for that of her elder brother Michael.