HC Deb 06 March 1917 vol 91 cc203-4
25. Mr. O'LEARY

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the widows of soldiers and others who lost their lives in the Boer War are suffering privations owing to the pensions they receive being inadequate to purchase the bare necessaries of life; and whether he will investigate the matter with a view to granting them a war bonus?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS(Colonel Sir A. Griffith-Boscawen)

The matter to which the hon. Member refers is being considered by the Ministry of Pensions.

26. Mr. WHYTE

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that aged persons who are inmates of the Hillside Homes in Perth are, by a recent decision of the pension officer, declared ineligible as old age pensioners, and have therefore lost the pensions they formerly received; whether he can say why this decision has been deferred till the present time, when the increased cost of living has lowered the value of the pension and increased the cost of maintenance in these homes; whether he is aware that institutions of the character of the Hillside Homes will now be unable to undertake the care of many deserving persons who, in default of old age pensions, will become a charge upon the poor rate; and whether he will say how much public money is saved by the decision to withhold old age pensions from persons maintained in such institutions as the Hillside Homes, Perth?

Mr. MUNRO

I am aware that on appeal by the local pensions officer the Local Government Board for Scotland have decided that the value of the benefits accruing from residence in the homes referred to is such as to disqualify an inmate for the receipt of a pension under the Old Age Pensions Act. The grant of the pension was, therefore, made in error, and if this had been realised at an earlier stage no pension, would have been granted. The necessary action for correcting the erroneous grant was taken as soon as the mistake was discovered by the pensions officer, who had himself no power to decide the matter. I am not in a position to answer the last two parts of the question; but I would point out to my hon. Friend that the decision of the Board is in strict accord with the terms of the Statute, which the Board have no power to vary or right to disregard.