§ 38. Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Pensions the number of children of ex-service men who continued to have the dependants' allowance until they reached the age of 21?
§ The Minister of Pensions (Sir Walter Womersley)I regret that the records of my Department do not enable me to give the precise particulars asked for. I may, however, say that up to 31st March last the total number of allowances to children of deceased or disabled soldiers which had been continued beyond the normal age of 16 years, though not necessarily to the age of21, was approximately 47,000.
§ 39. Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Pensions whether he has had the case of Thomas Minshall, of Mosley Common, Boothstown, investigated by an officer of his Department; and, if so, what assistance can be given to him?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI sympathise with the circumstances of this distressing case, and the hon. Member will be aware that the King's Fund, of which I am the trustee, has already assisted this boy with grants for such purposes as invalid chairs and clothing during the past eight years. I am prepared to consider further occasional help from this source in co-operation with other ex-service funds. As the hon. Member has been informed, however, this case has been the subject of correspondence between my Department and the appropriate local authority who, after inquiry into the circumstances, have found that the case is not one in which they can render assistance.
§ Mr. TinkerI think the hon. Member will agree that this is about the most pitiful case from the whole of the War period; and cannot I ask him in this case to do something more?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI quite agree that this is a very distressing case. I should like to have an interview with my hon. Friend, as there are some matters I should like to put to him.