§ 69. Sir H. CAYZERasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the hardship caused to old age pensioners by reason of their having to pay a fee of 3s. 7d. for a copy of their birth certificate in order to establish their claim; and whether he can embody a Clause in the Widows, Orphans, and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill now before Parliament to enable these pensioners to obtain a copy of their birth certificate free of charge or at some nominal fee?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)My hon. and gallant Friend has been misinformed. Applicants for old age pensions are not required to produce their birth certificates in support of their claims: and any verification from the birth registers required by the pensions officer is furnished to him gratuitously by the General Register Office. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.