§ Mr. GODFREY COLLINSasked the Lord Advocate if his attention has been drawn to the case of Mrs. Nelson Johnson, of Greenock, who has been refused an old age pension on the ground that she was not a British subject, on account of her marriage with a native of Denmark at Greenock on 5th December, 1859; whether he is aware that she was born in Argyllshire in 1839, and since 1859 has resided in Greenock; and whether, in view of the fact that this woman was ignorant of the law through which she lost her rights as a British subject, he can instruct the Local Government Board to grant her an old age pension?
§ Mr. UREMy attention has been drawn to this case. I fear that the applicant's ignorance of the law does not alter the fact that by her marriage she lost her nationality. The decision of the Local Government Board appears to me to be in accordance with the provisions of the Statute. In any event, I have no power to give directions to the Local Government Board to grant pensions.