HC Deb 27 April 1910 vol 17 cc606-8W
Mr. DANIEL BOYLE

asked the Chief Secretary why the claim of Mary Cunningham, Cashel, Carrowmore, Ballina, county Mayo, who according to the Census Returns was seventy years of age in March, 1909, has not yet been passed for pension?

Mr. BIRRELL

Mary Cunningham's claim was disallowed by the pension subcommittee, and the appeal which she then made to the Local Government Board was dismissed by them on 6th January, 1909, as she produced no evidence that she had reached the statutory age. The Board are not aware that she has since made a fresh claim.

Mr. DANIEL BOYLE

asked the Chief Secretary why Bridget Golden, Rathlacken, Ballina, county Mayo, was deprived of her old age pension after having been for nine months in receipt of same; if he is aware that Mrs. Golden can produce as evidence of age the certificate of her marriage, which took place on 17th January, 1857; and whether the Local Government Board will assume that she was then at least seventeen years old, and so now duly qualified for pension?

Mr. BIRRELL

Mrs. Bridget Golden was shown in the Census return of 1851 as being nine years of age, and her name did not appear among her parents' family in the Census Return of 1841. The Local Government Board accordingly decided that she had not yet attained the statutory age. The certificate mentioned in the question was before the Board, but it contained no mention of the pensioner's age, and no evidence was furnished showing that she was seventeen years old at the time of her marriage.

Mr. HACKETT

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mrs. Bridget Fennelly, Poynstown, Newbermingham, county Tipperary, was granted an old age pension by the Gortnahoe subcommittee; that the pension officer appealed against this decision of the subcommittee on the grounds that her income, as estimated by him, exceeded £31 10s. per annum; will he say whether her income, as stated in her application for a pension, consisted of interest on £100 deposit receipt in a local bank; and whether the pension officer in his estimate valued her board and lodging, which she is receiving gratuitously from her sister-in-law, in order to show that her income exceeded £31 10s.?

Mr. BIRRELL

The pension officer appealed against the decision of the subcommittee in this case, on the ground that the claimant's means exceeded £31 10s. per annum. Mrs. Fennelly was stated to be possessed of £100 in bank, but in estimating her total means the Board were obliged, under Section 4 of the Old Age Pensions Act, to take into account the value of her maintenance on a farm of 185 Irish acres, rented at £95 14s. 4d. per annum.