§ Dr. AMBROSEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, under what section of the Old Age Pensions Act is the Local Government Board for Ireland empowered to cancel on appeal, on the strength of the record of age in the Census Office, the pension of an old age pensioner, where the committee or sub-committee on the question being raised by the pension officer refuse to cancel such appeal; under what section of the Old Age Pensions Act are pension officers in Ireland entitled to call on old age pensioners, as they have been doing for some months, asking them for particulars as to their parentage and place of residence, for the purpose of search in the Census Office; and why should the Census of 1841 and 1851 be taken as a criterion in such a matter?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe answer to the first part of the question is that the power is given by sections 7 (1) (c), 8 (3), and 11 (2) of the Act. The answer to the second part of the question is section 7 (1) (b) of the Act. In answer to the third part of the question, under article 26 of the Old Age Pensions Regulations, the Local Government Board, or any Committee, may have regard to any such evidence or information as, in the opinion of the Board or the Committee, is sufficient for the purpose, and is the best evidence which it is reasonably possible to obtain.