HC Deb 08 July 1935 vol 304 cc89-91

6.52 p.m.

Sir K. WOOD

I beg to move, in page 14, line 5, after the first "the," to insert "day before the."

The hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) will remember that he raised a question with reference to two days which might arise in connection with this proposal. As the Clause is worded the actual day on which the age of 14 is reached and 31st July following the 16th birthday are excluded from the periods for which pension or allowance payments can be made. This Amendment will male it clear that payment is to be made for both these days.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made: In page 14, line 6, leave out "thirty-first day" and insert "end."

In line 33, leave out from the first "the" to "dies," in line 34, and insert child."—[Sir K. Wood.]

6.54 p.m.

Mr. RHYS DAVIES

I beg to move, in page 15, line 3, to leave out from "Act" to the end of the Clause.

I move this Amendment in order to secure from the Minister a statement on an intricate point. If he can satisfy us that the point is covered, we shall not press the Amendment. I am under the impression that the right hon. Gentleman has already covered the point, which is this. An insured man dies and leaves a widow and child. I understand that it has been customary under the present law that if the child leaves school at 14, works for a month, and then goes back to school, the child's allowance is not payable; whereas, if the child had remained at school from 14 to 16 without going to work the allowance would have been paid. It is extraordinary that where a child simply goes to work for a week it is debarred from the allowance which, I am sure, the Act intended to give it.

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

I can give the hon. Gentleman the assurance he requires. In future, under this Clause, the allowance to the child and the pension to the widow will run concurrently, irrespective of a break in the education, provided the child is still at school, and it will run on to the end of the July following the child's 16th birthday.

Mr. E. WILLIAMS

I am much obliged to the Minister for the concession, for there were a large number of anomalous cases of this kind.

Mr. G. HALL

If a child of 14 or 15 went into industry and left it, and did not return to an elementary or secondary school, but went into a juvenile training centre under the Ministry of Labour, would the child receive the allowance?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

The Clause says "under full time instruction," and I think that a juvenile instruction centre would be recognised under that phrase.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 17 and 18 ordered to stand part of the Bill.