§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the Chief Secretary if he will state in how many cases where the Local Government Board upheld the pension officer's appeal has it subsequently been discovered that they were wrong in their decision, and so admitted it; has the Local Government Board no power to rectify the error in such cases; and, in view of the poverty of many old age pension applicants and the hardship any unnecessary delay entails, will he have this question at once reconsidered, and, if necessary, introduce legislation to deal with the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board do not admit that any of their decisions have been wrong. They can, of course, only take into account the evidence submitted to them at the time, and it has happened that the claimants have been able subsequently to bring forward fresh evidence. Subject to Section 9 (1) of the Treasury Regulations (House of Commons Paper 304 of 1908), it is always open to a claimant to make a fresh claim and bring forward any new evidence in respect of his case. In several cases where this has been done the pensions have been allowed.