§ Mr. TASKERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will consider 1738W whether Instruction 7 in the Second Schedule to the Old Age Pensions Consolidated Regulations, 1922, made by the Lords of the Treasury, can be disclosed to the various old age pensions committees who are called upon to assist in administering the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924?
Mr. SAMUELThe hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. The Regulations referred to are statutory Regulations, and, as such, are published and placed on sale to the public. Moreover, I am informed that in January, 1922, a copy was sent by the Ministry of Health to each Old Age Pension Committee and Sub-Committee with a covering circular in which it was stated that any additional copies which might be required could be obtained on application to the Stationery Office.
§ Mr. TASKERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, for the purpose of simplification and economy, he will consider the desirability of making arrangements whereby agents appointed under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, may be authorised to perform the same duties under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, and to act on behalf of any claimant or person entitled to or in receipt of a pension who is, by reason of any mental or other incapacity, unable to act?
Mr. SAMUELThe appointment of an agent for an incapacitated claimant or pensioner under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924, lies entirely with the local pension committee, except where a committee or quasi-committee of the estate has been appointed. But as an agent is appointed to act for one specified pensioner only, and a pensioner (other than a blind person) cannot receive both a contributory pension under the Act of 1925 and a non-contributory pension under the Acts of 1908 to 1924, it would not appear that the existing arrangements are inadequate.