HC Deb 03 December 1925 vol 188 cc2478-9
22. Mr. BAKER

also asked the Minister of Pensions, whether, in the event of a child of a War widow obtaining a situation on reaching the age of 14, a part or the whole of the child's pension is withheld; if so, under what article of the Royal Warrants is this practice followed; and whether, as in some cases his Depart- merit has stated that the pension will be withheld until the child reaches the age of 21, he will say whether in these cases the child will receive the arrears of pension with compound interest?

Major TRYON

I am not quite clear as to the class of case the hon. Member has in mind. No general rule such as that suggested on the matter in question is in operation. It is, however, the case that in certain exceptional instances, e.g., of neglected children who are statutorily placed under my care, or the children of widows whose pensions have to be administered in trust under the auspices of the Special Grants Committee, the whole or a portion of the allowance while the child is earning may be temporarily withheld and administered in such a manner as best to secure the exclusive interests of the child. In these cases the balance accumulated remains at call for any exceptional expenses of emergency required for the child, and the balance is paid out on the advice of the War Pensions Committee and the Special Grants Committee as and when required. The balance, if any, is not reserved until the age of 21, except in the interests of the child. In some cases a portion of the balance, if any, accumulated is from time to time invested at interest. I am at present considering the general administrative arrangements in this connection.