Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked whether the President of the Local Government Board's attention had been called 29 to the case of Harry Clark, of Viaduct Farm, Lexden, Essex, aged seventy-three, whose application for an old age pension has been refused on the alleged ground of his failure to work according to his ability; and whether, as Clark says he has worked on the farm during the last six years whenever there was work for him to do, he will have further inquiry made into the case?
§ Mr. BURNSThe Local Government Board received an appeal in the case referred to. The pension officer reported to the Pension Committee that the claimant had failed to work according to his ability, opportunity, and need, for the maintenance of himself and those legally dependent on him, and the Pension Committee disallowed the claim on that ground. On investigation of the case the Board were unable to find any evidence which would justify them in reversing the decision of the Pension Committee, and they accordingly decided that the claimant was disentitled to a pension. On the information before me, I could not undertake to suggest a reopening of the case.