§ 11. Mr. GILBERTasked the Minister of Pensions how many orphan children his Department is responsible for, and in what manner they are dealt with: how many of them are in schools: how many are otherwise provided for: and is his Department responsible for the whole cost of maintenance of such children?
Mr. ROBERTSI assume that the hon. Member has in mind children taken under my care under Section 9 of the War Pensions Act, 1918. There are 3,181 such children, of whom 2,413 are boarded out in private homes and 768 are in institutions because of mental or physical infirmities, for training or for other reasons. These children, so far as they are of school age, are attending elementary schools or are receiving appropriate education in the institutions. The pensions payable for these children are in accordance with the terms of the Royal Warrant, and are supplemented where it is necessary in order that proper provision may be made.
§ Mr. W. THORNEAre any reports received from time to time from the institutions in which these children are?