§ 1. Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Pensions what amount is now available in the Voluntary Fund; whether ex-service men whose claims have been rejected by tribunals on the ground of their disability not being attributable to or aggravated by military service are eligible for grants from this fund; and if he can state the total amount disbursed from the Voluntary Fund during the six months ending 30th Tune last?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)The balance of the King's Fund not already earmarked for specific distribution is approximately £17,000. Cases of the kind referred to in the second part of the question are, under the rules of the King's Fund, not eligible for grants. The total amount distributed from the Voluntary Fund during the period referred to is £12,300.
§ Mr. TAYLORCan the right hon. Gentleman say when the decision was reached that such cases were not eligible?
§ Major TRYONIf the hon. Member refers to the question of grants for poultry farming—I cannot give the exact date without notice—he will find that the recommendations from different parts of the country are very much against grants for poultry farming, compared with the advantages of other grants.
§ Mr. VIANT (for Mr. T. HENDERSON)asked the Minister of Pensions what are the purposes for which grants 1930 are now made from the Voluntary Fund at his disposal; whether applications from ex-service men desirous of starting poultry breeding are now considered; and if he will consider applications from men in receipt of disability pensions for grants to enable them to apprentice their children and/or provide outfits or tools?
§ Major TRYONIt would not be practicable to set out in detail the various types of case that are assisted from this fund, but I may say that in all cases disablement or death by war service is a condition precedent. Grants for poultry farming are no longer made as experience has shown that the venture is ordinarily not successful, and as regards children, assistan.ee is confined to cases of orphan children.