§ 32. Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, when a pen- 708 sioner goes into a hospital or institution which receives grants from either the Government or the local authority in which the hospital or institution is situated, the pension inures to the State, and that no portion is paid to the local authority or institution while the pensioner is an inmate; whether he has recently received any representations from local authorities asking for an alteration in this practice; and, if so, whether he has any intention of introducing legislation?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREAs regards the first part of the question, the position is that under the provisions of the First Schedule to the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1929, a pensioner who becomes an inmate of a Poor Law institution, other than a pensioner who enters an institution for the purpose of obtaining medical or surgical treatment and continues to require such treatment, is disqualified for the receipt of a pension. There is no provision in the law for the transfer of any portion of the pension to the Poor Law authorities. As regards the second part of the question, I have received no representations recently in the sense suggested by the hon. Member and the last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.