§ 11. Mr. DALTONasked the Minister of Pensions for what purpose it is proposed to issue Regulations authorising the deduction of sums up to 5s. a week from the pensions of the children, aged between 14 and 16, of deceased sailors, soldiers and airmen; whether the money will be paid into the Post Office Savings Bank in separate accounts in the name of each child; in the event of the death of the child to whom would the accumulated arrears be paid; and whether, before the new Regulations are issued, he will lay them upon the Table of the House for the information of Members?
§ Major TRYONThe object of the instructions referred to, which would apply to motherless children only in receipt of wages, is solely in the interests of the children, in order to provide them with means of purchasing tools, an outfit or other similar emergency or occasional expenses, which may be necessary between the ages referred to or later. With regard to the second and third parts of the question, the administrative arrangements are now under consideration, but it is, of course, clear that any balance of warrant allowance unexpended is the property of the child and would be subject to disposal in the same manner as any other arrears of pension or property of a beneficiary in the hands of the Ministry. The matter would be dealt with by instruction and not by statutory regulation, and the procedure suggested would not, therefore, be appropriate, but as soon as the arrangements are complete, I shall be happy to cause information to be embodied in a Paper, copies of which could be placed in the 631 Library of the House and will be furnished to any Member who requires them.
§ Mr. DALTONWill interest be added to any sums held back from these children?
§ Major TRYONI am not prepared to reply to that at once. The general matter has been considered by various councils and on the whole the suggestion has been favourably received.