§ Sir R. THOMASasked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the desirability of amending the Old Age Pensions Act so as to make provision for the guardians to draw the pension in respect of any old age pensioner maintained in a rate-aided institution for as long as the person may remain chargeable to the said guardians?
Mr. SAMUELThe provision in the Old Age Pension law by which inmates of poor-law institutions, except when receiving medical or surgical treatment for a period not exceeding three months, are disqualified for an old age pension under the Acts of 1908–1924, was enacted as the result of a recommendation by the Departmental Committee on Old Age Pensions of 1919, and the Government are not prepared to introduce legislation to alter it.