§ 29. Mr. NEIL M'LEANasked the President of the Local Government Board whether Mrs. Elizabeth Stevenson, a widow, eighty-five years of ago, has had her old age pension stopped on the ground that she has been overpaid £5 18s., and no further payment will be made until this earn is paid back; if he is aware that the total income of this old woman is her old age pension plus 10s. per week pension on account of her son who was killed in action in France on 25th September, 1915; whether the pensions officer was authorised to act in this manner; and what steps he proposes to take to secure to this woman her old age pension plus the full pension of 15s. war pension to which she is entitled on account of her age and infirmity?
§ Mr. BALDWIN (Joint Financial Secretary to the Treasury)As the answer to this question is rather long, I will, with the hon.. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The following is the Answer referred to:
§ Mrs. Stevenson's old age pension has been reduced by the local pension committee from the 5s. to the 3s. rate as from 18th January, 1918, on account of an increase in her means due to the grant of a war pension of 10s. a week. As she drew old age pension at the 5s. rate until 7th March. 1919, she has been overpaid the sum of £6, which, under Section 9 (2) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, is a debt to the Crown. The over-payment having arisen through her concealment of the in- 1398 crease in her means when next visited by the pension officer, the debt has not been. waived, and recovery is being effected by withholding the old age pension at the 3s. rate under the authority of Section 7 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911. In the meantime the additional allowance of 2s. 6d. a week will be paid to her.
§ The amount of the war pension payable is a matter for the Ministry of Pensions.