§ Mr. GUINEYasked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether, owing to the number of persons over seventy years of age residing in Ireland who cannot produce birth certificates, or whose names cannot be found in the census books of 1841 or 1851, he will issue instructions to the pension officers to accept the sworn declaration of persons who are either old age pensioners or are admittedly over seventy years themselves as proof of age; and if he will order the withdrawal of the regulation directing pension officers to appeal in cases as above stated where they are of opinion that applicants are over seventy years?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI see no reason for modifying the instructions issued to pension officers in Ireland in regard to cases where no documentary evidence of age can be produced in support of a claim to an old age pension. These instructions do not require the officer to appeal against the grant of a pension by the Committee if he himself is satisfied that the claimant has attained the statutory age.