HC Deb 06 July 1910 vol 18 cc1622-3
Mr. JOHN ROCHE

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he was aware that the old age pension committee at Ballinasloe, county Galway, have applied for the removal of Mr. Aird, pension officer, in consequence of his refusal or neglect to attend their meeting, although upon the premises while the meeting was going on; and whether he will take action in the matter?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

The reason why Mr. Aird did not attend the meeting in question was that he did not receive the request for his attendance in time to make the necessary arrangements as regards his other official duties. I may observe that, though Mr. Aird endeavours as far as possible to meet the wishes of the committee in the matter of attending their meetings he is not bound by the regulations to attend them. I do not propose to take any action in the matter.

Mr. DORIS

asked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that Julia M'Hugh, of Cashel, Ballyvary, county Mayo, having satisfied the local pension committee and pension officer that she was seventy years old, and otherwise qualified, was awarded an old age pension, which was paid to her from January to August, 1909; that on the latter date her pension was stopped on the allegation of another pension officer, who had just been appointed to the district, that she was not seventy years of age; and could he state what evidence was put forward by this pension officer in support of his assertion that Mrs. M'Hugh was not of the qualifying age, or why, in the absence of such evidence, she was deprived of her pension?

Mr. REDMOND BARRY

The pension officer in December last raised a question as to Julia M'Hugh's age, as the Census. Return of 1851 showed her to have been only ten years old at that date. The subcommittee having confirmed the pension, the pension officer appealed to the Local Government Board, who, on communicating with Mrs. M'Hugh, found that she was unable to produce any satisfactory evidence that the Census Return was in correct. On the evidence before them the Local Government Board decided that Mrs. M'Hugh had not attained the statutory age.