HC Deb 07 May 1912 vol 38 cc346-8W
Mr. GUINEY

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many cases where the sub-pension committees in the county of Cork have granted a pension during the past twelve months has the pension officer appealed, and in how many cases was his appeal successful; in how many cases in the same county has the Local Government Board ordered an independent investigation to be made by one of their inspectors; and in how many of these cases has the inspector recommended the granting of a pension?

Mr. BIRRELL

The information asked for is not available, and could not be procured without exhaustive search which would take considerable time, and its value would be out of all proportion to the trouble involved. The Reports of the Inspectors are confidential and intended only for the information of the Local Government Board.

Mr. FRANCIS MEEHAN

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Margaret Fox, of Cullenboy, Glenade, Manorhamilton, county Leitrim, was deprived of an old age pension on the ground that her age could not be found in the Census of 1841 or 1851; and whether, having regard to the fact that she produced certificates and evidence from reliable sources that she was over the statutory age and that she is poor and infirm, her claim will be reconsidered?

Mr. BIRRELL

Margaret Fox was unable to furnish any satisfactory evidence of age, and her claim for a pension was therefore disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal. The Board have no power to reopen consideration of her case.

Mr. NEEDHAM

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state the number of persons during 1911 who ceased to be chargeable to the rates in Manchester owing to the removal of the old age pension pauper disqualification, and the saving to the rates thereby?

Mr. BURNS

The City of Manchester comprises the Poor Law unions of Manchester and South Manchester and also a part of the Prestwich Union. The following particulars have been received by me from the clerks of the three boards of guardians with reference to my hon. Friend's question:—

Manchester.—"During the year 1911, 251 persons ceased to be chargeable to the poor rate in this township owing to the removal of the pauper disqualification, and the cost of their relief at the time of their ceasing to be chargeable to the guardians was £45 9s. 6d. per week."

South Manchester.—"During the year 1911, 444 people who were in receipt of outdoor relief ceased to be chargeable in order to avail themselves of old age pensions. These people were receiving in outdoor relief £88 14s. 6d. per week. Forty-five inmates of the workhouse also ceased to be chargeable, and the cost of their maintenance was reckoned as equal to £15 15s. per week. Of these totals 356, who were receiving outdoor relief, ceased to be chargeable in December, 1910, on the removal of the pauper disqualification, and thirty-three went out of the workhouse the same period."

Prestwich.—"The number of persons who ceased to be chargeable to this union during the year 1911 owing to the removal of the old age pension pauper disqualification was 281, and the saving to the rates> assuming that the said number of persons had remained chargeable up to 31st December of that year, was £2,420 9s. 6d. Some of the persons included in the 281 subsequently became chargeable to the union by returning to the workhouse and the workhouse infirmary."