HC Deb 07 December 1911 vol 32 cc1760-1W
Mr. BOLAND

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that every possible effort has been made to trace the record of age of Mrs. Mary Brewer, Old Road, Cahirciveen, who is an applicant for an old age pension; and whether, in view of the fact that no record of her family and of herself can be found in the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851, that the local pension committee has unanimously approved of her claim, and that she has submitted all the evidence in her power, he will have special inquiry made into her claim by detaching an inspector, if necessary, to judge the genuineness of her claim?

Mr. BIRRELL

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. As I have already stated, the claimant's parents were traced in the Census Return of 1841, but there was no child Mary recorded as being in the family, so that she was apparently born after the 6th June, 1841. The Local Government Board have already given their decision on Mrs. Brewer's latest claim, and have therefore no power to reopen the matter as suggested.

Mr. J. P. FARRELL

asked whether the name of Bernard Kelly, who was granted a pension by the Ballinamuck sub-committee in May of this year, which was objected to by the pension officer, has yet been placed on the list of old age pensioners in county Longford?

Mr. BIRRELL

Bernard Kelly's claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board in July last on the ground that there was no satisfactory evidence of his having attained the statutory age.

Mr. J. P. FARRELL

asked whether Owen Martin, who was granted a pension of 5s. weekly by the Ballinamuck, county Longford, sub-committee, but deprived of the same on appeal in April last, has since been granted his pension; and, if not, on what grounds is he deprived of the same?

Mr. BIRRELL

A further claim made by Owen Martin was disallowed by the Local Government Board in October last on the ground that there was no satisfactory evidence of his having attained the statutory age.

Mr. J. P. FARRELL

asked whether John Coyle, of Granard, who had enjoyed an old age pension, but was deprived of the same in January last, has been yet restored to the list of old age pensioners in the Granard sub-district; and whether, seeing that this man is over the prescribed age, he will now be restored to the pension of which he was deprived?

Mr. BIRRELL

So far as the Local Government Board are aware, John Coyle has not been granted a pension since he was deprived of it in May last. The Board have no evidence that he has attained the age of seventy years, and in any case they have no power in the matter as no appeal is at present before them.