§ Mr. LUNDONasked whether the English Local Government Board has sanctioned the claims for pensions of applicants who, according to the Auditor-General and Comptroller, surrendered holdings of from forty to fifty acres of land in order to secure pensions; and, if such cases were sanctioned by the Board, why is Section 4 (3) allowed to prevent people in Ireland who only surrender fifteen acres, and that according to the old custom of the country, from obtaining a pension, especially when it is stated that the Law is the same in all parts of the 901 United Kingdom and when the same instructions are given to all those officers who are entrusted with carrying it out?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI have no authority to call in question the correctness of the decisions given by the Pension Authorities in the cases referred to, or to discuss the principles adopted by the Local Government Boards in applying the provisions of Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act. As regards pension officers, I have nothing to add to my answers to the hon. Member on the 23rd instant, and the hon. Member for Mid Tipperary on the 20th instant.
§ Mr. LUNDONHow is it that in this country people of forty or fifty acres of land are eligible, while in Ireland people with plots of 13, 14, or 15 acres are not eligible?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThere is no difference in the administration of the Act.