§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state on what grounds an old age pension is withheld from Mrs. Mary Griffin, Old Road, Cahirciveen, in view of the fact that she is seventy-four years of age and that her sister, who is two years younger, is in receipt of an old age pension?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)In July last the Local Government Board upheld an appeal of the pension officer in this case, on the 212 ground that there was no evidence that Mary Griffin had attained the statutory age. An appeal on a second claim is at present being investigated. The Board have no information as to a younger sister being in receipt of a pension.
§ Mr. EDWARD WOODasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in cases where application has been made for old age pensions and where the application, after inquiry, is allowed, it is the practice of the Treasury to remit the arrears of pension due to the applicant as from the date of application?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hobhouse)The answer is in the negative. Under Section 5 (2) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, a pension does not begin to accrue until the first Friday after it is allowed, or the first Friday from which it is provisionally allowed, as the case may be.