§ Captain DONELANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that persons having from £1,000 to £1,500 in banks are receiving old age pensions, whilst the poorest of the poor are left to starve; and when it is proposed to remedy this inequality by removing the disqualification entailed by the casual receipt of out-door relief?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThere have been a few cases in which persons with comparatively large sums of money on deposit with banks at a low rate of interest have succeeded in qualifying for old age pensions, but my information is that such cases have not been numerous. The responsibility for the maintenance of old people who have been in receipt of poor relief of such a character as to disqualify them for old age pensions rests, under the law as it at present stands, with the Poor Law authorities. Both the points referred to in the question will be dealt with in the amending Bill which the Government hope to be able to introduce next Session.