§ Sir R. NEWMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that old people are being deprived of an old age pension on the ground that the value of their housing accommodation places them outside the scope of the Old Age Pension Act, though their actual income was nil, and that in one case in Devonshire it necessitated an old lady of about 85 years of age being removed from a comfortable home to the workhouse; and whether he will propose some form of legislation which would exclude the value of the housing accommodation afforded to these old people. being taken into account in assessing their income for the purpose of obtaining an old age pension?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERIn calculating means for old age pension purposes the law requires the value of free housing accommodation to be taken into account, but this does not prevent the recipient from obtaining an old age pension unless such value (together with the other means, if any) exceeds the statutory limit for a pension. I am not prepared to introduce legislation to the effect suggested by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. ADAMSasked the Home Secretary the number of cases of old age pensioners proceeded against for offences under the Old Age Pensions Acts during 1922, and the number of cases of deaths from starvation of persons over 70 years of age, showing the number of old age pensioners separately during the year 1922?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe numbers of persons prosecuted for offences against the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, are as follow:
1919 … … 112 1920 … … 112 1921 … … 134 The figures for 1922 are not yet available. I have no information in regard to the other points.