§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the pension of Mary Casey, of Monasteraden, Gurteen, sub-committee, county Sligo (pension officer's register 10–195), was stopped on 18th June, 1909, because, as alleged, her name could not be found in the Census Return of 1841; whether he is aware that afterwards a search in the Record Office disclosed the fact that she was three years of age, a certificate to that effect having been obtained; and, if so, whether the amount of £5, or twenty weeks' pension, of which she was deprived through no fault of her own, will now be paid to her?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hobhouse)The facts are as stated in the first two parts of the question, the original pension having been stopped in accordance with a decision of the Local Government Board. A fresh pension was granted from 12th November, 1909. I understand that the particulars which the pensioner furnished for the purpose of the second search in the Census Records contained the name of a different townland to that which she furnished to the pension officer for the original search; and there seems, therefore, no sufficient ground for making good to her the sum which she might have drawn if she had furnished the correct particulars in the first instance.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Ellen Cully, of Tubbercurry, county Sligo, who had been granted a pension of 5s. per week by the local sub-committee of Tubbercurry on 1st April, 1909, was deprived of the same immediately afterwards as a result of an appeal by the pension officer against the decision of that committee; whether he is aware that inquiries since made at the Census Office and elsewhere have elicited that neither the names of Ellen Cully, her father, or mother could be traced on the Census of 9 1841; whether he is aware that her father died in 1845 and that she herself was admitted to the local workhouse hospital for a time in 1900, where, as records show, her age was registered as sixty-two years; and, if so, whether steps will be taken to have this woman's pension restored to her?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEEllen Cully drew a pension of 5s. a week from 1st January to 14th May, 1909, inclusive. Payment was then stopped in pursuance of a decision by the Local Government Board on a question raised by the pension officer on the ground that she had not attained the age of seventy, being recorded as seven years old in the Census of 1851. I have no information, apart from that contained in the question, as to the result of subsequent inquiries at the Census Office or elsewhere. Nor have I any power to restore the pension. But it is open to Mrs. Cully to prefer a fresh claim supported by any evidence of age which she now possesses.
§ Mr. O'DOWDIs it not a fact that some five or six weeks ago, in reply to a similar question, the right hon. Gentleman cited cases where pensions were stopped through no fault of the applicants? Will he consider any applications in regard to them?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEAs I have informed the hon. Gentleman, I have no information as regards this particular case other than that stated in the question itself.
§ Mr. NANNETTIIf the pension officer is afterwards found to be wrong, has the person who has got no pension no redress?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIt is clear that where mistakes are entirely due to the pension officers they ought to be redressed at the expense of the Treasury; but where the fault is due to misinformation, or lack of information on the part of the would-be pensioner, that person must bear the loss.
§ Mr. BRADYasked on what grounds the old age pensions which were paid from 1st January, 1909, to 9th April, 1910, to a number of patients in the Royal Hospital for Incurables, Donnybrook, Dublin, were on the last-named date withdrawn and have not since been paid, notwithstanding the decision of the local pension committee that these pensions were payable?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEPayment of the pensions in question was stopped by direction 10 of the Board of Customs and Excise, in reliance on the fact that the local pension committee had disallowed the claims of two other inmates of the hospital, on the ground that the yearly value of their maintenance in the hospital exceeds £31 10s. per annum. The pension officer has appealed against the decision of the same committee allowing the pensions to continue in the case of those inmates who had previously been granted pensions. If the decision of the Local Government Board is in favour of the pensioners, the pensions will be restored with arrears.
§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Mary M'Manus, of Kilroosk and East Bass, was deprived of the full allowance of her old age pension on the grounds of means; and whether, as this old lady had no means of her own and was solely dependent on her family, an inquiry will be made with a view of granting her the full amount?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe pension sub-committee allowed Mrs. McManus a pension of five shillings a week, but the Local Government Board, on appeal, determined that she was only entitled to three shillings a week. In coming to this decision they took into consideration the value of her maintenance and of the privileges she enjoyed. If she has any fresh evidence to offer, or if her circumstances have altered since the Board's decision in August last, it is open to her to raise a question at any time in the usual way.