Mr. CAWLEYasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a delay of many weeks sometimes takes place between an application for and the first payment of an old age pension; and whether he will take steps in such cases to pay in a lump sum the amount of the pension lost by such delay as soon as the claim has been substantiated?
§ Mr. MASTERMANUnder Section 5 (1) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, an old age pension commences from the first Friday after the claim is allowed. I may point out, however, that under No. 16 (1) of the statutory Regulations a claim may be made four months before the date on which the claimant will become entitled by age or otherwise to a pension, and it therefore rests primarily with the applicant to make his claim in due time. I am not aware of any unnecessary delay arising in such cases.
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§ Mr. GUINEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Local Government Board for Ireland received a request from the Newmarket, county Cork, pensions committee that they might send an inspector to inquire into the circumstances of Michael Sheehy, who was an applicant for an old age pension, and on whose application the pension officer reported means exceeds £31 10s. a year; and, if so, what steps have the Local Government Board taken to comply with the request of the pensions committee?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board received the request referred to, but, having regard to the information before them, they did not consider it necessary to have an inspection made in this case, and the pensions committee were informed accordingly.