§ 32. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Minister of Pensions why Mrs. Jessie 18 Campbell, of Invercreran, Creagan, Argyll, whose sons, John, Ewan, and Donald, were all killed in the War, and who was in receipt of a needs pension, who has now lost her husband and whose daughter has had to return home to look after her mother in her enfeebled health, has had her needs pension reduced to 10s. a week so soon as she reached the age for, and obtained, the old age pension, in consequence whereof she and her daughter have only £l a week to live upon; and whether, seeing that this pension is based on the assumption that her three sons, had they survived, would have been in a position to contribute, and would have contributed, no more than 3s. 4d. a week to the support of their mother, he will have her pension restored to the former figure?
§ Mr. B. SMITHI am informed that it would not be possible to issue a pension to Mrs. Campbell at the rate which was applicable during her husband's lifetime. The pension now in issue is based on need and is the maximum permissible when regard is had, as it must be, to the other income which Mrs. Campbell is drawing.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENDoes not the hon. Gentleman think it a very shocking state of affairs that the Government should appropriate this poor old woman's old age pension?
§ Mr. SMITHThe hon. Member will understand that I am not competent to reply to a supplementary question of that character. I suggest that he should address it again to the Minister.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWill not the hon. Gentleman make representations?