§ Mr. HICKS BEACHasked whether fresh legislation will be necessary to legalise the payment of old age pensions to paupers over seventy years of age on 1st January, 1911; or whether persons who have received Poor Law relief before or during 1910, but are otherwise qualified for pensions, will automatically receive them on 1st January, 1911?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEFresh legislation will not be necessary to legalise as from 1st January, 1911, the payment of old age pensions to persons who fulfill the other statutory conditions, but who have been in receipt of Poor Law relief since 1st January, 1908.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANMay I ask whether it is a fact that the right hon. Gentleman has undertaken to remove the disqualification before 1st January, 1911?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI do not think it will be necessary. The only reason why legislation is necessary is rather for the protection of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSDid not the right hon. Gentleman inform me the other day that the first step in the alteration of the Old Age Pensions Act would be the removal of the pauper disqualificaition?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEThe dealing with that question will undoubtedly be the first step, and the making of financial provision for it is far and away the most important part of the operation.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSDid not the right hon. Gentleman say that the first step would be the removal of the pauper disqualification?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI am making provision for it, and that is the most important part. The first thing is to make financial provision for the payment of the old age pensions.
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEThat is so.