§ Mr. DORISasked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) whether, in estimating the incomes of old age pensioners who claim 2s. 6d. per week extra owing to increased cost of living, pension officers act in accordance with official instructions, or with regulations, when they include in such estimates of income the separation allowances to such claimants in respect of sons or other relatives serving in the Army?
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§ Mr. BALDWINThe answer is in the affirmative. Paragraph 4 of the Treasury scheme of 5th October last (Cd. 8373) provides that for the purpose of these additional grants the pensioner's entire means must be taken into account.
§ Mr. DORISasked if the declared object of the recent increase of old age pensions by 2s. 6d. per week was to place the aged poor in the same position as to purchase of food and other necessaries as they were in before the War; and why such increase has been refused in the case of numbers who had been granted 5s. per week before the War and who then found it barely sufficient to procure the necessaries of life?
§ Mr. BALDWINNo, Sir. The object of the existing scheme is to assist pensioners who are suffering special hardship. Subject to the limits prescribed by paragraph 3 of the scheme (Cd. 8373) the question whether an additional grant is to be made in any particular case is one for the discretion of the local pension committee.