§ Mr. M'GHEEasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the disparity in the assessments made by different pension officers in the means of Michael Quinn, an old age pensioner in the Omagh district; whether he is aware that the first officer, in December, 1908, assessed Quinn's means at less than £21; that a second pension officer assessed his means at £26; that a third pension officer assessed Quinn's means at £63, although in neither case had there been, nor was there alleged to have been, any change in the pensioner's circumstances; whether he is aware that the pension sub-committee asked the pension officer to furnish them with the information as to the value which he placed upon each item of the sources which made up the total income or means to £63, which he assessed, and that the pension officer 42W refused to supply the information; whether under Section 7 (1) (b) of the Act of 1908, and the Treasury Regulations 11 (2), and instructions to pension officers, he is bound to supply the information asked for by the sub-committee; and will he instruct the pension officer to do so immediately?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI understand that Quinn's pension was revoked by the Local Government Board in March last; and I have no authority to question the correctness of their decision. If, as stated by the hon. Member, Quinn's circumstances were then the same as they were when the pension was originally granted, he was apparently fortunate in having received a pension for several years. As regards the last part of the question, I have no information, but I will make inquiry.
§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether appeals have been taken against the Mullahoran sub-committee's decision awarding 5s. a week to Ellen Moffett and John Moffett, appeal numbers, respectively, N.A. 3758 and N.A. 3759; and will he state on what grounds the pension officer has appealed, giving in detail a summary of his objections?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAppeals were lodged with the Local Government Board against the decision of the Pension Committee, granting John Moffett and Ellen Moffett old age pensions of 5s. a week each, by the pension officer, who alleged that having regard to the means of the claimants they were not entitled to pensions of more than Is. a week each. On consideration of all the circumstances of this old couple the Local Government Board decided that each claimant should be allowed a pension of 3s. a week.
§ Mr. M'GHEEasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that in December, 1908, the pension sub-committee of Omagh, on the recommendation of the pension officer, granted a pension to Michael Quinn; that at that time the pension officer assessed Quinn's means as being under £21; that in September, 1909, a second pension officer assessed Quinn's means at £26, which increased assessment was not recognised by the sub-committee, on the ground that no change in Quinn's circumstances had taken place since the assessment of 1908; that the action of the subcommittee was upheld on an appeal by the pension officer of the Local Government Board; that the pension officer has now 43W assessed Quinn's means at £63, although there is still no change in the pensioner's circumstances and the Poor Law valuation of his holding is only £3 5s.; whether the Local Government Board has deprived Quinn of his pension; and will he direct the Board to reconsider the case with a view to restoring it?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board have no knowledge of the circumstances under which Michael Quinn was granted a pension in 1908, as his claim did not come before them on appeal. With regard to the question raised by the pension officer in 1909, the Board considered that the question was not one which could properly have been raised in view of the judicial decision to the effect that pension authorities were not authorised to raise questions with regard to pensions in cases where no change of circumstances of the claimants had occurred. The Board, accordingly, dismissed the pension officer's application. The Old Age Pensions Act of 1911 (Section 6), however, expressly empowers pension authorities to raise a question as to an old age pension at any time, irrespective of whether any change has occurred in the claimant's circumstances, and upon an application some months ago made by the pension officer to the Board to decide a question raised by him as to Michael Quinn's means, the Board, on the evidence submitted, determined that Quinn's means were in excess of the statutory limit, and his pension was accordingly stopped. The valuation of Quinn's holding is as stated in the question, but the Farm comprises about fifty statute acres, of which portion is tilled, and the stock thereon consisted of twelve head of cattle in addition to a horse and fowl. The Board have no power to reconsider their decision in the matter.