§ Mr. GUINEYasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether pension officers, in computing the means of applicants for old age pensions, have received any orders requesting them not to estimate the means of the applicant according to the items detailed in the schedule accompanying the application, but to make a general estimate which would include a valuation of applicant's circumstances in general as before applying, together with a valuation placed on present appearances of way of living; and is it the usual custom to make an estimate of each item shown as probable income as stated by the applicant in the application form or furnished to pension officers on subsequent investigation?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, the practice of pension officers is governed by Section 2 (1) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911, which deals with the various factors which must be taken into account in calculating the means of a claimant.
§ Mr. GUINEYasked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government of Ireland received an application from the Newmarket sub-pensions committee requesting that an inspector might be sent to investigate the claims of two applicants for old age pensions; if so, whether the application was refused and for what reasons?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo application of the nature referred to has been received by the Local Government Board.