§ 42. Mr. Oliverasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the anomalous position of children of divorced parents where the parents die during the children's dependency, as no provision is made for the granting of orphans' pensions in respect of them notwithstanding the payments by the father during his lifetime of contributions under the appropriate statute; and whether he will consider amending existing legislation to remedy this oversight in the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1936?
§ Miss HorsbrughThe position under the present Contributory Pensions Scheme as regards orphan children of divorced parents is not set out quite accurately in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question; as this matter is somewhat involved I am sending him a detailed statement. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Renfrew (Major Lloyd) on 25th May last, of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Mr. OliverWill the hon. Lady say what the answer was on that occasion? If it was that the Minister did not intend to do anything in the matter, can she say what justification exists for this discrimination?
§ Miss HorsbrughI think that when the hon. Member receives the detailed statement he will see that there is no discrimination. As to the answer, it was that my right hon. Friend could not undertake to introduce legislation at this time, pending the completion of the Government's comprehensive review of social insurance and allied services.
§ Mr. OliverIs the hon. Lady aware that the review might take years while this matter requires attention now, because these children are paupers?