§ Mr. HACKETTasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that Mrs. Casey, Cuigella, Templemore, gave up her farm to her son ten years ago verbally, as it is customary for people of her position in life to do, he will direct the pension officer not to include it in calculating her yearly income when considering her application for an old age pension?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEPension officers in Ireland are well aware of the custom referred to in the question, and I see no reason, on the facts stated, to issue any special instructions in this case. I may remind the hon. Member that, whatever the officer's estimate of Mrs. Casey's means may be, this estimate is not binding on the authorities with whom the decision rests, namely, the Local Pension Committee, or the Local Government Board in the event of an appeal.
§ Mr. JOHN WALSHasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, owing to the fact that their names cannot be traced in the Census Returns for the years 1841 and 1851, a number of septuagenarians residing in the South of Ireland are unable to procure evidence as to their ages, and consequently, although otherwise qualified, are deprived of the pensions which they are entitled to under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908; and whether he will place the records subsequent to 1851, now in the custody of the Registrar-General, at the disposal of the pension officers and the public?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am not aware that the facts are as stated in the first paragraph of the question. If the persons alleged to be septuagenarians are able to prove that they have reached the statutory age they are not deprived of pensions, even though their names are not recorded in the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851. With regard to the second paragraph, I understand that the Census Returns of 1861 and 689W 1871 are not available, having been destroyed many years ago by order of the Government.