§ 42. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mary McLahaney, of 13, Lyon Street, Hebburn-on-Tyne, whose father, the late A/Corporal, No. 21,270, Durham Light Infantry, was killed in the Great War and whose mother is also dead, who was receiving a weekly allowance of 12s. from the Ministry which was withdrawn when the rating authorities in county Durham made a supplementary allowance of Ss. weekly on the ground that the Ministry is not responsible for making the grant if public provision is otherwise available or in issue; and whether he will, under the circumstances, restore the grant or at least make an allowance of 4s. weekly to bring the blind orphan's income up to the original amount of 12s.?
§ Sir VICTOR WARRENDER (Vice-Chamberlain of the Household)I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is making inquiries into the facts of this case and when they are completed he will communicate with my hon. Friend.