§ 35. Colonel W. THORNEasked the Pensions Minister if he is aware that the pensions officer officiating between Stamford and Peterborough is preventing the old age pensioners from keeping chickens, because if they do he deducts various sums of money from their old age pensions; is the officer exceeding his duty; and if he will take action in the matter?
§ Mr. PRATT (Lord of the Treasury)I have at present no information on this matter, but I am having inquiries made. I will acquaint the hon. Member with the result.
§ 41. Mr. RENDALLasked the President of the Local Government Board why Mrs. Prosser, of Thornbury, Gloucester, has not received any old age pension, though it is nearly four months since she attained the age of seventy; whether Mr. A. E. Tazay, the local Customs and Excise officer, has written her saying that, after her communication to the hon. Member for the Thornbury Division, her papers were sent to the Local Government Board, since which he has heard nothing; and will he at once have this matter attended to?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Dr. Addison)Apparently the local pension officer refrained from issuing the pension because he considered it probable that the Local Government Board might have enter- 2885 tained an appeal against the Pension Subcommittee's decision of the 23rd January last. I have now caused the papers as to Mrs. Prosser's claim to be returned to the pension officer, and have asked him to deliver a pension order book as soon as possible.