§ 14. Mr. CLUSEasked the Minister of Pensions what allowances are paid under the regulations of the Special Grants Committee to the children of deceased officers by means of educational grants or otherwise, and to what age these are payable; what allowances are paid to the children of deceased non-commissioned officers and other ranks, and at what age these allowances cease; and whether he proposes to introduce any regulation which will give the children of other ranks the same emoluments as the children of deceased officers?
Mr. ROBERTSI am sending my hon. Friend copies of the regulations of the Special Grants Committee for officers and for "other ranks," from which he will gather the provision made for allowances in exceptional cases in respect of the children of deceased officers, non-commissioned officers and men. Such allowances are subject to the same age limits as allowances under the Royal Warrants. The last part of the question will have my consideration.
§ 15. Mr. CLUSEasked the Minister of Pensions whether he has withdrawn the regulation prohibiting members of war pensions committees administering the pensions of children from banking any surplus of the weekly pension, and stipulating that money not expended should be returned to the Pension Issue Office; whether this regulation deprives the orphan children of any interest that may accumulate; and whether in future any savings may be retained for the benefit of motherless children and Section 9 children in the hands of the members of the war pension committees who are looking after the children?
Mr. ROBERTSI am making further inquiries into the points raised in my hon. Friend's question, and I will communicate with him later.