§ Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Health whether a man or woman of 61 years of age or over who has been insured under the National Health Insurance Acts for a period of not less than 10 years, but who has left an insurable occupation, is accepted as a voluntary contributor for an old age pension at 65 years of age after the 2nd January 1928, or on the fifth anniversary of his re-entry into insurance?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe second alternative is the correct one. No person can acquire a title to an old age pension before the expiration of five years from the date of his last entry into insurance.
§ Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Health whether a person re-entering insurance as a voluntary contributor in order to qualify for an old age pension at 65 is, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13 (5), also required by his Department to fulfil the statutory conditions in Section 8 (a) of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925?
§ Mr. T. SHAWasked the Minister of Health whether, in the cases of persons married in Roman Catholic churches when no registrar was present, it has been decided for the purposes of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act that the marriage was irregular, and the widows and children are not eligible for pension in cases where the husband died prior to 4th January, 1926?
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Mr. CHAMBERLAINIf the hon. Member will give me information about any particular case which he may have in view, I will look into it; but I may point out that, where the statutory requirements for a valid marriage have not been complied with, I have no dispensing power which would enable me to hold a marriage valid for the purposes of the Contributory Pensions Act which would not be valid for other purposes.
§ Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Health why, with regard to widows' pensions, children's allowances, and orphans' pensions, he cannot give the number of persons in the city of Lincoln who have applied for them, together with the number of claims allowed, the number rejected, and the number still under consideration; and if he can state any reason other than the system of book-keeping why information as to the number of claimants in the city of Lincoln is not available to Members of this House?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe information required could only be obtained by an examination of all claims received, and in view of the pressure of current pensions work, I do not think that I can fairly call for such an examination.
§ Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Health the number of applications for widows' and orphans' pensions, to the latest convenient date; the number of claims allowed and being paid in respect of widows and orphans, respectively; together with the number of claims disallowed on the grounds that the deceased husband or father was not covered by Section El8 of the National Health Insurance Act?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe total number of claims made in England, Wales, and Scotland for widows' pensions is 168,400, and for orphans' pensions 12,300; 118,100 widows' pensions have been awarded, and 6,400 orphans' pensions. Figures are not at present available of the number of rejections in each of the various categories.
§ Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Health the total number of claims for widows' pensions; the number of widows to whom pensions have been awarded; how many claims have been rejected; and how many claims are still under consideration?
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Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe total number of claims made in England, Wales, and Scotland for widows' pensions is 168,400; the number of awards 118,100; the number of rejections 33,700; and 16,600 claims are still under consideration.
§ Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Health the number of women and children in Lancashire who have been granted pension and allowance under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe information asked for is not available, as the claims are not arranged on a territorial basis.