§ 42. Mr. CAREWasked the President of the Local Government Board whether a labourer, receiving 10s. a week dependant's allowance and over seventy years of age, is debarred from receiving the old age pension if he should earn a few shillings a week by working occasionally on the land and thus exceeding the income of £32 10s. per annum?
§ Mr. BALDWINIf the hon. Member refers to a claimant to an old age pension, a pension cannot be granted unless the claimant's means from all sources, including earnings, do not exceed the statutory 1711 limit of £31 10s. a year.. If the hon. Member refers to an existing old age pensioner, he will find particulars of the concession made to pensioners whose means are increased by temporary earnings during the War set out in the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for Woolwich on the 17th April last.
§ Mr. CAREWWould it not be advisable under these circumstances, during the War, to relax this Regulation and get all the available men possible for getting in the harvest?
§ Mr. BALDWINIt is not a question of the relaxation of Regulations, but a question of legislation.
§ Mr. HOGGECan my hon. Friend say why the Treasury refuse to people who become seventy years of age the same privileges as are granted to those who are seventy years of age and who are covered by the Treasury concessions?
§ Mr. BALDWINI have already explained, in answer to previous questions, that the concessions that are made to existing pensioners are made by stretching the law. If we were to apply the same principle to applicants we should not be stretching the law but breaking it.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes my hon. Friend really wish the House to understand that the Treasury are unwilling to do for people who attain the age of seventy what they are doing for existing old age pensioners?
§ Mr. BALDWINWe are not prepared to introduce legislation to alter the basis of the old age pensions.