§ Sir F. SYKESasked the Minister of Health whether he has received a claim for a widow's and orphan's pension from a Sheffield resident who was married in 1909 to her mother's deceased sister's husband; and whether, seeing that the claim was admitted but subsequently rejected on evidence voluntarily submitted by the applicant that the marriage was not legal, that no doubt as to the validity of the marriage and the legitimacy of the children subsequently born existed in the mind of the applicant until after her claim to pension was lodged in 1926, and that, on such doubt arising owing to Press reports of similar circumstances, she took immediate steps to notify the pension authorities, he will, in these circumstances, grant this claim to pension?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I have no power to grant a pension in a case where the requirements of the Act are not satisfied. I may add that the claimant has given notice of appeal, and the case will come before the referees appointed under the Act.