§ 16. Mr. GINNELLasked, having regard to the belief of old age pension officers that they are expected to prevent wherever possible the grant of pensions irrespective of statutory qualifications, and to their reluctance to reverse their own decisions, whether a fresh inspector will be sent to investigate each case in which a pension committee or sub-committee, with personal knowledge of the claimant, grants a pension a third time; and whether this will be done in the case of Mrs. Julia Peppard in the Coole district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am not aware that there is any foundation for the statements in the first part of the question. An inspector is sent whenever such a course seems necessary and likely to lead to the production of satisfactory evidence. The fact, however, of a claim having been passed three times by a local pension committee does not in itself seem a sufficient reason for sending an inspector. As regards Mrs. Peppard's claim, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies to his previous questions on the subject.