§ 54. Mr. MARCHasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the hardship imposed upon some widows under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, whereby a child reaching the age of 14 years at the commencement of the education term the pension of 5s. per week is stopped, although by law the child has to continue at school until the end of the term, which is in some eases one or two months after the child is 14 years of age; and will he issue Regulations enabling the payment of 5s. per week to be continued until the education term is ended in such cases?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)A child's allowance under the Act would not be stopped in the circumstances mentioned if it were clear that the child was remaining at school. As, however, a child may, in certain cases, be allowed to leave school before the end of the term in which the 2033 age of 14 is reached, inquiries are sometimes necessary before the allowance can be continued after the attainment of the age of 14.
§ Mr. MARCHWould the parent have to make application to the registry for the child to continue at the school till the end of the term?
§ Sir K. WOODI should like to have notice. In all these cases we endeavour to meet the convenience of the parents, although it is necessary sometimes to make further inquiries. If the hon. Member has a case in mind, I will look into it.