§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to require that a contribution shall be made by Poor Law authorities towards the cost of pensions of septuagenarian paupers?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThis matter will be dealt with in the Revenue Bill shortly to be laid before the House by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has 564W been called to the fact that during the past year a number of old age pensioners obtained medical relief in workhouse hospitals; that the guardians were debarred from applying the pensions of such persons to the cost of their maintenance; that some pensioners allowed their pensions to accumulate and periodically received a lump sum, and others authorised relations to draw the pensions weekly; that since the removal of the pauper disqualification, at 31st December, 1910, a number of persons discharged from the workhouse obtained their pensions and within a short period were readmitted; and whether it is proposed to deal with these matters by legislation in the present Session?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe attention of my right hon. Friend has been drawn to certain difficulties with regard to the position of persons to whom old age pensions have been granted who subsequently became chargeable to the guardians, and the whole question is receiving careful con- 565W sideration. I am not at present able to say whether it will be possible to deal with the matter satisfactorily under the existing law or whether amending legislation will be required.