§ Mr. HACKETTasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the pension officer has refused to give an old age pension book to Mrs. Ellen Brennan, Derryfadda, Moyne, Templemore, county Tipperary; and whether he can state the grounds for the pension officer's action in refusing her a pension book, as she was in receipt of an old age pension for a considerable time?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am making inquiries, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.
§ Sir T. ESMONDEasked the Chief Secretary if he will suggest to the Irish Local Government Board that when applicants 1132W for old age pensions in Ireland fail to obtain proofs of their age in the local parish registers, or from the Public Record Office, the decisions of the local committees should be taken as decisive, in view of their personal knowledge and local information?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo evidence received by the Local Government Board in the case of appeal is excluded from consideration. However, where an appeal is received against the decision of a local pension committee, the Board obviously could not accept the decision of the committee as decisive without giving due consideration to the representations made by the appellant and to the circumstances of the case generally.