§ Mr. H. LAWasked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) if he will state why the application of James Molloy, Lackenagh, Burtonport, county Donegal, for a supplemental old age pension has been refused seeing that he is held entitled to the maximum amount of the original sum of 5s. a week, and that his income is stated to consist in the profits of a farm valued at 30s. per annum and the interest of £150 from the Post Office Savings Bank, from which he has to keep his wife, two daughters, and himself?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe Government's scheme for the grant of additional allowances to old age pensioners who are suffering special hardship owing to the War provides that the amount of the additional allowance shall in no case exceed such sum, within a maximum of 2s. 6d. a week, as will raise the money value of the means772W (including the pension money) to £l a week in the case of married couples, or in other cases to 13s. a week. Where the means (including the pension money) already amount to these limits, the pensioners are not eligible for the grant of any allowance. In the case of James Molloy the local Pension Sub-Committee refused an allowance on the ground that the pensioner was ineligible on means.
§ Mr. KELLYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds was James Curran, of Menalig, Cloghan, Strabane, county Donegal, deprived of his pension, in view of the fact that he and his sister jointly occupy a farm, the valuation of which is only £8 10s., and that she has already been refused a pension; and does he maintain that a farm of the valuation named is sufficient to support two old people in comfort without the assistance of the pension?
§ Mr. BALDWINJames Curran's old age pension has been revoked by the Local Government Board on appeal on the ground that his means now exceed the statutory limit. The farm in question to which he and his sister succeeded on the death of an elder brother is one of about 130 acres, and is stocked with sheep and cattle.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYasked why Stephen and Ellen Hayes, of Ballydorgan, Fermoy, who were applicants for an old age pension, were refused the same by the Local Government Board, although the pension officer recommended them for 3s. each and the committee for 5s.; and, as any maintenance they had has now disappeared, will the pension be granted?
§ Mr. DUKEThe claims of Stephen and Ellen Hayes, of Ballydorgan, Fermoy, were disallowed on the ground that the value of their maintenance and privileges exceeded £31 10s. a year each. They are entitled to support on a good farm which they assigned to a son-in-law in 1911. The inspector, who visited these old people, reported that he found some 39 to 40 acres of splendid land, and that there were l½ acres of potatoes, 7 to 9 acres of oats, 2 acres of roots, four cows, five yearling calves, one mare, pigs and fowl. Since the assignment was made Ellen Hayes has had four claims disallowed and Stephen Hayes one, and fresh claims from each are now before the Local Government Board. It is urged that they 773W have left the farm above referred to on account of a disagreement with their son-in-law and have gone to live with another son-in-law. This is probably in the hope of qualifying for a pension, but, even if the disagreement is genuine, it does not constitute a reason for granting these pensions in view of the support to which they are entitled.