Mr. POINTERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention had been drawn to the case of Mr. Edward English, now resident in Sheffield, who, after being in receipt of an old age pension in Peterborough, went to Canada to reside with his son, but finding he had been misled, returned to this country after an obsence of only five months, and is in consequence debarred from receiving an old age pension, under the section of the Old Age Pensions Act regulating the period of residence Abroad, which constitutes him an alien, although he has paid rates and taxes for forty-nine years; whether he will consider the possibility, either by a short amending Act or by regulation, of remedying such cases of hardship; and whether it is the intention of the Government to take action in the matter?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEMy right hon. Friend's attention has been drawn to the case referred to. With reference to the second and third portions of the question I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for East Limerick on the 14th instant, and to the hon. Member for the Wilton Division on the 15th instant.