§ Sir F. SANDERSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the hardship encountered by natural-born British subjects claiming old ago pensions who, owing to residence in British possessions other than those specified under the Act, are unable to fulfil the statutory conditions which require that a claimant must since attaining the age of 50 have resided in the United Kingdom, the Channel Isles or the Isle of Man for at least 12 years; and if he will consider introducing legislation with the object of removing the statutory condition above referred to in the case of natural-born British subjects?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAUnder Section 2 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919, a claimant for a non-contributory old age pension must satisfy the pension1192W authorities, if he is a natural-horn British subject, that he has since attaining the age of 50 had his residence in the United Kingdom for an aggregate period of not less than 12 years. Any periods spent in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man by a person born in the United Kingdom count for this purpose. It must be remembered that this residence qualification only applies to claimants for noncontributory old age pensions. No proposal for amending legislation is at present under consideration.