§ Mr. GINNELLasked the President of the Local Government Board whether it is in accordance with the practice of that Board to accept the opinion of a pension officer as conclusive on the point of age, and disallow an old age pension granted by a local pension committee, who are satisfied that the applicant is over 70 years of age, the applicant's case being that he was baptised in 1837 by a clergyman known to have been in the parish at that time, has resided in the same district ever since, there is no parish register, the applicant's name does not appear in the Census Returns, and such evidence as he has been able to offer has not been refuted; what further evidence does the Board require in such circumstances; and whether the Board would consent to see and hear the applicant, and then judge for themselves before finally ruling against the pension.
§ Mr. BURNSI am not aware that the Board have received any appeal in which the circumstances were exactly as described in the question. In dealing with appeals on the question of age, they do not necessarily accept either the opinion of the pension officer or that of the pension committee, but endeavour to obtain the best evidence available for determining the question at issue. If a personal interview with the claimant seemed to them desirable they would instruct an inspector to visit the locality for the purpose.