§ 94. Mr. HALLSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Mr. T. Murphy, of Heywood, a man of 84 years of age, has had his old-age pension reduced to 4s. per week, because a pension of 15s. per week has been granted to him for the loss of his only son in the War; and whether he will either introduce legislation or issue regulations in the near future to prevent the recurrence of such incidents?
Mr. YOUNGUnder the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919, the highest rate of pension that can be granted where the means exceed £36 15s. 0d. per annum (about 14s. 1d. per week) is 4s. per week; and Mr. Murphy's old age pension was accordingly reduced to that rate by the local pension committee when the pension of 15s. per week was granted to him by the Ministry of Pensions. I am not prepared to introduce legislation in the sense suggested by the hon. Member.