§ Mr. YERBURGHasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the case of Thomas Edwards, of Blackburn, an ex-soldier of 2379W twenty-six years' service in India, who having been awarded a pension of 4s. a week by the Blackburn local pension subcommittee, was refused the pension by the Local Government Board on the ground that he had not lived twelve out of the last twenty years in the United Kingdom; and whether, in view of the fact that from 1896 to 1910 Edwards was in the employ of persons holding office under the Crown, he can see his way to grant the pension under Section 3 (2) (a) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911?
§ Mr. BURNSMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am aware of the facts of the case to which the hon. Member refers. The provisions of Section 3 (2) (a) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911, would not apply to the claimant unless it could be shown that the persons in whose employment he was were in service under the Crown, the remuneration for which is paid out of moneys provided by Parliament. I am not empowered to relax or disregard any of the statutory conditions relating to the grant of old age pensions.