§ Sir J. LONSDALEasked how many applications have been made by old age pensioners for additional allowances; and how many are in receipt of the extra payments?
Mr. McKINNON WOODAs I have stated in reply to previous questions on the subject, over half a million pensioners have already applied for allowances. I fear that I could not state how many allowances have been granted without instituting inquiries which would materially delay the work of investigating applications.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland upon what grounds the Local Government Board, on appeal, disallowed an old age pension of 5s. per week, 355W awarded by the Westport Pension Subcommittee, to Mathias Heneghan, aged seventy-two, of Westport; can he give the items making up the alleged income exceeding £31 10s. per annum which the Board state is enjoyed by the claimant; and was it right to include in such calculation 4s. per week, military separation allowance to Heneghan, who has four sons in the Army and Navy?
§ Mr. DUKEThe claim of Mathias Heneghan, of Westport, for an old age pension was disallowed on the ground that the claimant's means exceeded the statutory limit. It appears that the claimant's earnings as a tailor amount to 5s. to 6s. a week; from lodgers, 1s. 6d. a week; and that he has an Army separation allowance of 7s. a week. There is no authority for disregarding the latter item in calculating the claimant's means, as suggested in the question. Before arriving at a decision in the matter, the Board had the case specially investigated by one of their inspectors.