§ Mr. MEAGHERasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that several of the inmates of the Castle-comer Union Workhouse to whom pensions under the Old Age Pension Act were granted took their discharge from the workhouse before receiving any pension, and that after cashing their first pension order they sought and obtained admission to the workhouse as 1402W paying inmates, having been admitted on the separate register by way of loan; whether he is aware that two of these pensioners, namely, Margaret Curran and Anne Tracey, have been deprived of their pension books by the pension officer, although there was no authority for so doing; and whether he will give instructions to have the pension books restored to them, and place the pensioners in a position of carrying out their intention of repaying the guardians the cost of their maintenance according to the terms of their admission on the separate register as being relieved by way of loan?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe facts are as stated. Instructions have been given for the restoration of pension with arrears to Margaret Curran and Anne Tracey; but these instructions must be understood as being without prejudice to any directions the Treasury may hereafter give as to summary stoppage of pension, if, as the result of the questions which have been raised, it is decided that maintenance in a workhouse constitutes a disqualification, even though it be paid for by the inmate.