§ 37. Mr. Platts-Millsasked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will take powers to amend the National Insurance Act so as to end the anomaly in the case of a man with children of a first marriage who lives with another woman and has further children by her, whereby the children are assessed separately for the purpose of family allowances, with the result that within the single family there are two first children.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsNo, Sir. I am not prepared to introduce amending legislation for the purposes suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Platts-MillsAs the effect of this anomaly is that where there are four babies in one family, born of two separate mothers, they only get the benefit for two children whereas, where they are the same family born of one mother and two separate fathers they get the benefit for three children, will the Minister not recognise that this is quite a silly anomaly?
§ Mr. GriffithsI appreciate that there is an anomaly, but this is a very controversial matter, and the question has been considered by this House quite recently. My reply is that I am not prepared to consider amending legislation.