HC Deb 16 November 1916 vol 87 cc956-7
17. Mr. LUNDON

asked the Chief Secretary if he will explain why the Local Government Board refuse to grant pensions to people who have no allowances whatever from any source except they are kept by their friends who may be small farmers; and, in view of this treatment, will reconsideration be given to such cases, as the only alternative will be for the disappointed applicants to go into lodgings where the weekly allowance of 5s. per week will be useless to them?

Mr. DUKE

I must refer the hon. Member to the terms of Section 2 (1) (a) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911, from which it will be seen that in estimating the means of a claimant for an old age pension the pension authorities are bound to include the yearly value of any benefit or privilege enjoyed by the claimant.

116. Mr. WING

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will cause to be issued through the Press and by circulars to the post offices for free distribution the full particulars of rules and regulations respecting the concessions to old age pensioners, especially those referring to allowing such pensioners to earn up to 30s. per week in urban areas and 20s. per week in rural areas, as much misapprehension exists on the above?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. McKinnon Wood)

A Memorandum giving particulars of the administrative concessions to old age pensioners has already been presented to Parliament and published, and is on sale at the price of ½d. Pensioners entitled to the benefit of these concessions receive them without having to make special application, and I doubt whether the further steps suggested by my hon. Friend are necessary.

117. Mr. WING

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that forms of application for the extra 2s. 6d. per week granted to old age pensioners are not yet to be had at all post offices; and will he seek to remedy it?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I understand that the first supply of forms proved insufficient in certain places, but further supplies have now been obtained, and I am informed that the forms have been available at all post offices for some time past.

Mr. WING

May I state that I have received letters from several other people in Durham?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

Perhaps the hon. Member will kindly let me see them.