Sir W. ALLENasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will furnish a statement of the number of pm-war pensioners of the Royal Irish Constabulary and other classes, and the total amount paid annually under the heading of each class; and will he state also the nature of the means test applicable to such pensions by which these pensions are either reduced or by which some pensioners are entirely deprived of the pensions due to them?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINBy "pre-war pensioners" I assume that my hon. Friend means pensioners who are eligible, under the Pensions Increase Acts, 1920 and 1924, and the analogous Army Warrants and Admiralty Orders in Council, for the increase of pensions previously granted on the pre-war scale. In the case of the Royal Irish Constabulary the Acts apply in effect to pensions granted before 1st April, 1919. For Royal Irish Constabulary pensioners who retired before that date, the figures which I presume that my hon. Friend desires are as follow:
crease of pensions under the Pensions Increase Acts that the pensioner must satisfy the pension authority that his means, including his pension, are less than £150 a year, if unmarried, or £200 a year, if married. This condition does 1317W not affect the original pension, but operates only in regard to increase of pension.