§ Mr. GUINEYasked whether, in cases where applicants for old age pensions in Ireland are allowed by deed of agreement a specified sum of money or board and lodgings as an annuity, he will state why it is that pension officers, in estimating the value of the board and lodgings, 2329W always place it at a sum which will disqualify the applicant, in some cases estimating the cost of maintenance at three times the alternative annuity, or does the pension officer take into account the fact that the value of the maintenance of the annuitant is in no case supposed to exceed the amount of the annuity, or is it a fact that the value of maintenance is entirely based on the manner of living of the applicant immediately prior to the transfer of means?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI am not sure that I fully understand the point of the question, but I cannot in any way admit the suggestion as to the action of the pension officers. Where the consideration for the transfer is alternatively an annuity or board and lodging, the officer would not base his estimates on an assumed equivalence between the amount of the annuity and the money value of the board and lodging, if he regarded such an assumption as inconsistent with actual facts.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary what redress, if any, there is for applicants for old age pensions whose applications have been refused because of their names not appearing in the Census Returns of 1841–51, although the genuineness of their claims have been proved by statutory declarations and sworn affidavits; are such persons, whose ages and claims are beyond question, to be permanently shut out from the benefits of the Old Age Pensions Act because of the reasons specified; and, if not, can he say what course the Government propose to take in regard to having this grievance remedied?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo claim has been disallowed by the Local Government Board on the ground of age where any evidence of a satisfactory character was produced that the claimant, notwithstanding the absence of his name from the Census Returns, had reached the statutory age. A statutory declaration or affidavit by itself has no value unless it discloses means of knowledge sufficient to justify belief in the fact deposed to. The onus of proof of age rests upon the claimant, and no pension can properly be allowed in the absence of satisfactory evidence on this point. It is not true to say that any person has been shut out whose age is beyond question. Many persons have been admitted to pensions without any direct evidence other than their appearance.
2330W
§ Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the grounds upon which the Local Government Board disallowed the pension granted by the Athlone, county Roscommon, pension committee to Mr. Richard Begley, in the face of the fact that this man is in possession of no income further than interest to the amount of about £1 a year, drawn from a small sum of money lodged in bank, on which he has to draw for his maintenance, and that he lives with his married son who is in possession of a house and small farm; and if the Local Government Board will reconsider its decision in this matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLRichard Begley's claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit. The farm referred to belonged to him, and was only assigned by him to his son in February last, shortly before the claim was made for a pension. It it not open to the Board to reconsider their decisions.