§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that batches of aged workmen, mostly under seventy years of age, are being dismissed by colliery owners in South Wales on various pretexts; and whether he will so amend the Old Age Pensions Act as to enable aged workmen in such cases to come within the scope of its benefits?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI have no information as to the facts stated in the first part of the question. With regard to the second part, the Government cannot undertake to propose legislation on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the Chief Secretary whether a Mrs. Mary Brady, Graddum, Crosserlough, county 2821W Cavan, was recently deprived of her pension; what means has this old lady; will he state what age she is shown to be according to the Census of 1841 and 1851, respectively; and will he have her case reviewed and in the meantime direct that the pension and arrears be paid lest she should suffer from the action of the inspector?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMary Brady was deprived of her pension on 16th September, 1912, as the result of a question raised by the pension officer that she had not reached the statutory age. She is recorded in the Census Return of 1851 as being two years old. In the record of her parents' family in the 1841 Return there is also a Mary shown as being six months old, but it appears from the 1851 Return that this child died in 1843. The Local Government Board have no power to reopen consideration of her case.