59. Captain FABERasked the President of the Local Government Board if he-will consider the desirability of not disqualifying persons for old age pensions who have been maintained by boards of guardians in workhouses and workhouse infirmaries if these persons are otherwise-eligible for the same?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Lewis)A person is not disqualified for receiving an old age pension merely on the ground that he has been maintained by a board of guardians in a workhouse or Poor Law infirmary, but a person cannot continue to receive an old age pension whilst he is being maintained in a workhouse or Poor Law infirmary and is in receipt of relief other than the medical or surgical assistance referred to in Section 3 of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908.
§ 66. Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the claim of Hugh Doyle, of Annaghcary, Riverstown, Bally-mote (pension officer's register Ll/193), for an old age pension came before the Bally-farnon (No. 2) sub-pension committee of the county Sligo on 12th September last, when his claim was allowed and a pension of 5s. per week granted, and that that decision was afterwards appealed against by the pension officer on the grounds that the applicant was under the statutory age; and whether, seeing that on searching the 1061 parish registry of Keash, Ballymote, where Doyle was born, it has been ascertained that a sister (Margaret), younger by two years than the applicant, was born in May, 1844, which would place Doyle's age at over seventy years, and that these facts can be attested to by sworn affidavit, this case will be reconsidered with the view of having a pension granted to this, man?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The Local Government Board disallowed this man's claim on appeal on the 9th instant, as there was no evidence before them to show that he had attained the statutory age. The baptismal certificate referred to did not relate to Doyle's younger sister Margaret, who was only two years old in 1851, but to an elder sister who died in 1848. The Board have no power to reconsider their decision.
§ Mr. O'DOWDIf evidence is now forthcoming that the facts as stated in the question are correct, will this man's case be reconsidered?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe case can of course be brought up again on fresh evidence. A fresh application can be made.