§ Mr. JOHN ROCHEasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a woman named Mary Keaveney, of Esker, Glenamaddy, county Galway, applied last May for an old age pension; that the pension sub-committee granted her on 12th June a pension of 4s. a week on the recommendation of the pension officer; that the husband Keaveney applied in October for a pension, was recommended by the pension officer for a pension of 2s. a week, the local sub-committee recommending 4s. a week, and that the Local Government Board decided on 29th November that Keaveney was not entitled to a pension, and on 31st January that Mrs. Keaveney was only entitled to 2s. a week; and 585 whether, in view of the divergence of opinion regarding Keaveney's means held by the Local Government Board and the local pension committee, who are personally acquainted with Keaveney's circumstances, he will cause special inquiry to be made in this case?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board were satisfied that neither Mary Keaveney nor her husband was entitled to any pension in view of the fact that they live on a farm of seventeen acres which is fairly well tilled and carries a substantial stock. The Board therefore decided that Keaveney was not entitled to any pension. In the case of Mary Keaveney, the only question submitted to the Board for determination was whether she was entitled to a pension of 5s. or 2s. a week, and they decided that she was not entitled to the higher rate. The Board have no power to reopen these cases.
§ Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the President of the Local Government Board (1) whether it is a coincidence that the estimate of the number of persons over seventy in 1821, as stated in Table II. (3), page 32, of Cd. 3618, 1907, which purports to be founded on a method of calculation which takes into account the actual number of persons between fifty and seventy in 1901, is identical with an estimate founded on the assumption that the estimated number of persons over seventy is continually changing in the proportion which the number of persons over seventy in 1901 bore to those over seventy in 1891 in England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland respectively, a method which omits to take the aforesaid actual number into account; (2) whether the figures published in Table No. III., page 26, of Cd. 3618. 1907, in respect of old age pensions, were actually calculated on the assumptions mentioned in the heading to the table?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)The method of calculation actually employed was that indicated in the latter part of the first question. I regret if the headings to the tables referred to have misled the hon. Member.