§ Mr. CHARLES PRICEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what would be the estimated cost to the Treasury of reducing the age limit from seventy to sixty-five years of age of persons entitled to receive an old age pension upon the present basis?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEAny such estimate must necessarily be very conjectural, but, subject to this qualification, it is probable that the additional cost would not be less than £7,750,000.
§ Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that Mr. D. O'Carroll, clerk to the Castle-comer District Council and the local pension committee, issued a public appeal to the old age pensioners of his district for a 1s. subscription to the Irish Parliamentary party as a mark of their appreciation of the labours of the Irish party in securing the passage of the Old Age Pensions Act, and has forwarded the moneys thus obtained from old age pensioners to the Irish party fund; and whether he will take any step to mark his disapproval of the conduct of a public official paid out of Treasury moneys in levying this political tribute off the old people?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI will inquire into the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers.