§ 52. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Mr. W. J. Whittle, of 87, Adelaide Street, Hull, is entitled to payment of five old age pension orders which his father was unable to cash before his death, and that Mr. Whittle applied for payment of these five orders to the Customs and Excise Department as soon as he was aware that he was entitled to payment of them, but payment has been refused on the grounds of the application having been, sent in too late; and whether he will reconsider 1898 his decision and make the payment to Mr. Whittle?
Mr. SAMUELIn view of the express provision in the law that "a sum shall not be paid on account of an old age pension if payment is not obtained within three months after the date on which it has become payable," I regret that payment cannot be made. I would explain that the period of three months is mentioned on the face of every pension order, and Mr. Whittle's application was not made until about five months after the date on which the orders became due for payment.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the hon. Gentleman not in a position to make any payment as an act of grace in a case of this kind, where a working man has been put to great expense through the illness and death of his father and has then discovered that his father owing to illness has not drawn his old age pension papers?
Mr. SAMUELNo, Sir, there is an express provision in the law dealing with this matter, and I cannot break the law.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYBut is it not possible, without breaking the law, to make an ex gratia payment?