§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many claims for old age pensions have now been lodged more than five months with the pension officers for the county of Meath, and are not yet reported on to the pension committee; whether the delay is due to the want of a sufficient staff in the Census Office, and to priority being given to searches against existing pensioners; and whether the claimants whose claims are deferred will be paid their pensions for the period covered by this delay on the part of the pension officers and Census Office?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI regret that this information is not available. Every effort is being made to expedite the searches in the Census Returns in the case of persons not already in receipt of pensions and such searches are being given precedence over searches with respect to existing pensioners, an adequate staff of searchers being employed. There is no power under the Act to pay a pension in respect of any period prior to the date of allowance of a claim by the pension authority.