§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary whether any recent instructions have been issued by the Treasury or the Local Government Board for Ireland to pension officers to question the right of old age pensioners in county Longford to be retained on the old age pension list; whether he is aware that within the past few months some twenty persons in various parts of North Longford have been deprived of their pensions by the pension officers after enjoying the same since the Act passed; whether the local pension committees have passed resolutions protesting against this officious officialism; and, if so, whether any action has been taken upon these resolutions?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the latter part I will make inquiries if the hon. Member will furnish me with definite particulars of the pensioners and pension committees to whom he is referring. I would, however, remind him that the responsibility for a decision which deprives a pensioner of his pension rests not with the pension officer, but with the pension committee or with the Local Government Board in the event of an appeal.
§ Mr. HADDOCKasked the Postmaster-General the estimated cost to the Post Office in respect of the Old Age Pensions Act in each year since the Act came into operation?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe figures asked for are as under:—
During the three earlier years the estimate does not include the value of postal services rendered by the Post Office on old age pension account to other Government Departments, as this value cannot now be ear-marked.
£ Financial year 1908–9, estimated cost 37,559 Financial year 1909–10, estimated cost 96,420 Financial year 1910–11, estimated cost 110,358 Financial year 19011–12, estimated cost 139,225