§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mr. John Malley, of No. 2, Boddon Street, Lowton, Lancashire, applied for an old age pension during November or December, 1927, and why the pension was disallowed; and what arrangement exists between his Department and the Ministry of Labour regarding the payment of unemployment benefit until the proof of age in doubtful cases has been established of applicants who may or may not be 65 years or 70 years of age?
§ Sir K. WOODAs regards the first part of the question, Mr. Malley's claim for pension was disallowed because it had not been established that he was between the age of 65 and 70 on 2nd January, 1928, but further evidence on this point was recently furnished by him and pension has now been awarded. As regards the second part of the question, it has been arranged with the Ministry of Labour that, in connection with the first claim for unemployment benefit after 2nd January, 1928, from a person who states that at the date of his claim his age is not less than 63, steps will he taken, in agreement with my Department where primary evidence of age is 1545W not available, to determine the age of the claimant, so that the question may be settled before a claim to an old age pension is made.