Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that a considerable time frequently elapses between the date of a claim being lodged with the pension committee, and that in consequence deserving persons are sometimes kept for months from the pension to which they are entitled; if it is possible to give instructions that the pensions shall be payable from the date when the claim was lodged; and if, where it is impossible to deliver the book of orders personally within a reasonable time, such books might be sent to the pensioner through the local postmaster?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEPension officers are required to investigate every claim and submit it to the Committee as soon as possible after it is received. The investigation sometimes occupies a considerable time, especially if evidence of age has to be obtained; but the regulations allow of claims being preferred four months before the date when the claimant will attain the age of seventy. There is no authority for allowing the pension to be paid at a date 1636 earlier than that specified in Section 5 (2) of the Act, namely, the first Friday after the claim has been allowed, or, in the case of a claim provisionally allowed, the first Friday after the day on which the claimant becomes entitled to receive the pension. The question of allowing the first book of pension orders to be delivered by post is under consideration. Delay in delivering the book does not, however, entail any ultimate pecuniary loss to the pensioner
Mr. CATHCART WASONasked in estimating, i.e., for purposes of old age pensions, the income derived from a croft, on what grounds fair wages to a son or daughter are not allowed for to the same extent as would be allowed to a stranger employed on the croft?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEPension officers estimate, but do not decide, what is the amount of a claimant's means. A reference is suggested to the Scottish Local Government Board as to the lines adopted by that Department in deciding appeals.
Mr. CATHCART WASONasked, in view of the fact that if a pension is refused there is nothing to prevent a claimant lodging a new claim, which would come before the pension committee and be duly considered, on what grounds a claim for an increased pension does not in practice come before the pension committee but is left solely to the discretion of the pension officer?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEUnder the proviso to No. 17 (1) of the Statutory Regulations the pension officer is not bound to make any report to the committee on a question raised by a pensioner claiming an increased rate of pension, if the officer is satisfied that there is no evidence in support of the allegations made by the pensioner. Otherwise the question must be sent on to the committee with a report. So far as I know it has not been alleged that any pension officer has abused the discretion given him by the proviso.
§ Mr. CULLINANasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a revision of old age pensions granted in England, Scotland, or Wales has taken place; and, if so, will he state the number of persons deprived of pensions in the respective countries?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThere has been no special revision of the old age pensions in any part of the United Kingdom. The number of pensions withdrawn on questions 1637 raised in England, Wales, and Scotland respectively during the year ended 31st December last was:
| England | … | … | … | 3,024 |
| Wales | … | … | … | 151 |
| Scotland | … | … | … | 404 |
§ Mr. CULLINANMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the instructions which have been issued to pension officers in Ireland were issued to pension officers in England, or whether special attention was directed to Ireland in the way of giving different instructions?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThere was no such distinction made so far as I am aware.