§ Mr. O'DOHERTYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state on what instructions Mr. J. S. 1727W Lewis, pension officer for the Milford station, county Donegal, acted when he recommended that an old age pension of 3s. per week be granted to Mrs. Catherine Barker, Rameltown, county Donegal, a widow with no means, simply because she was receiving an Army allowance of 8s. per week on account of a son serving at the front; whether the Local Government Board have issued instructions to pension committees not to take Army allowances into consideration in fixing old age pensions and whether instructions of a different nature have been issued to pension officers; and whether the pension officer will be asked to reconsider his recommendation in this case or will this widow be penalised for having a son defending his country at the front?
§ Mr. SAMUELSI would refer the hon. Member to the administrative concessions in the White Paper (Cd. 8320) for particulars of the concessions made to old age pensioners who are receiving Army separation allowances. Such concessions apply to pensioners only, not to persons claiming pensions. The case referred to in the question has not come before the Local Government Board.