§ 3. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Minister of Pensions whether there are any cases on record of pensioners who, being in ignorance of the provisions of the Royal Warrant with respect to a child born within nine months of their discharge, have applied for provision for such child some time after its birth, and have received arrears or a grant for the loss sustained during the interim between the birth and the application; and, if so, how many such cases there are?
§ Major TRYONIn cases of the kind referred to by the hon. Member, it is the rule to grant children's allowance, if admissible, from the date on which application is made for the allowance, and not from any earlier date. The pensioner is always made aware of the number of children, if any, for whom allowances are added to his pension.
§ Mr. WELLOCKCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman answer my question as to whether there are any cases of this kind?
§ Major TRYONI cannot say whether there are or not. We have no separate lists of these cases, but as the hon. Member knows this provision as to the nine months is quite clearly conveyed in the pensioner's handbook for 1919, and in the Royal Warrant.
§ Mr. HAYESIf there are any cases in which this grant has been paid, can the Minister state under what authority the allowances have been made?
§ Major TRYONIf there were some exceptional circumstances it might be possible for a grant to be made.