Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Minister of Health whether the officers investigating claims to pension under the new Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act have to satisfy themselves that the claimant is not leading an immoral life: whether this work is being performed by male officers; and whether he will consider arranging that such investigations, if necessary, shall be carried out by women?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIt is not necessary for investigating officers to satisfy themselves that a claimant is not leading an immoral life. Section. 21 of the Act does, however, provide that a widow is disqualified from obtaining a pension, if and so long as she and any other person are cohabiting together as man and wife, 721W and an officer must obviously make inquiry in any case where it comes to his knowledge that cohabitation may be taking place. The hon. Member will appreciate that such information may reach an officer only at a late stage of the investigation, and, in the circum stances, it would be impracticable to give any undertaking that inquiries in such cases should be made only by the women investigating officers.