26. Captain FABERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will cause inquiry to be made as to the case of Henry Rowell, of Stockbridge, Hants, who is seventy-one years of age, has no means of his own, and only receives 2s. a week old age pension, although he has appealed against that amount?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI am making inquiries in this matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.
§ 37. Mr. WEDGWOODasked the Home Secretary whether he has received a Petition asking him to reconsider the case of the old age pensioner Smith, of Tunstall, who was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment for escaping from the workhouse after he had given notice to leave because he escaped in workhouse clothes, and who was in consequence deprived of his old age pension; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action to put the matter right?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)I have had all the facts in the case referred to by my hon. Friend under my careful consideration, and find no sufficient ground for recommending the grant of a free pardon-the only means by which the offender could be relieved of the disability to which he is liable under the provisions of the Old Age Pension Acts. The disqualification lasts for two years.
§ Mr. SNOWDENDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is a perfectly heartless thing to deprive this man of his old age pension simply because he walked out with the workhouse clothes and left his own behind?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe hon. Member is, of course, putting one view of the facts before the House, but it does not quite agree with the facts stated to me.
§ Mr. SNOWDENDoes not quite!
§ Mr. CROOKSWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the reduction of that two years to some reasonable time? This is fining a man 5s. a week for two years?
§ Mr. McKENNAI shall certainly reconsider the case at a suitable time—I cannot promise now-in view of the representations made to me.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODWould the right hon. Gentleman allow the House to see the letter of the stipendiary magistrate, who appears to have been in ignorance of the fact that the man would lose his old age pension?
§ Mr. McKENNAI shall have to read the letter before deciding. So far as my memory serves me, I do not think my hon. Friend has correctly stated the purport of it.
§ 50. Sir JOHN SPEARasked the President of the Local Government Board the number of old age pensioners residing in workhouses in England and Wales on the 4th January last?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)The Returns show that there were on the date in question 2,847 old age pensioners in workhouses and other Poor Law establishments in England and Wales who were receiving relief which did not disqualify for an old age pension, namely, medical or surgical assistance only.