Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Lord Advocate if he is aware that the old soldier in Orkney, who was allowed to occupy with his wife a deserted cottage, was more in the position of a caretaker than a recipient of charity; and if he will bring the circumstances of this case under the notice of the Scotch Local Government Board to ascertain it it is possible to grant the pension awarded by the pension committee, as it cannot be said that the applicant has received Poor Law relief?
§ Mr. UREI cannot agree with the hon. Member that this old soldier was more in462W the position of a caretaker than a recipient of charity. He applied to the parochial board in 1895 to provide him with accommodation, as he had been turned out of his house. The minute of the parochial board granting him this bears that this was granted in consideration of the fact that there was no other way of dealing with the case. As I have already stated, the house was one provided for the accommodation of poor persons, and accordingly the right of occupation given to this applicant was just as much poor relief as if he had been given money to pay the rent of his house. I may add that during part of the period of his occupation of this house his wife, who was living with him, was in receipt of an allowance from the parish council.