§ 39. Mr. Abseasked the Minister without Portfolio whether he is aware that an illegitimate child has a right to succeed in intestacy to the estate of his mother only if she leaves no legitimate children; and whether he will seek to amend the law to provide that, in the event of a mother's intestacy, there should be equal distribution of the estate between all her children.
§ The Minister without Portfolio (Sir Eric Fletcher)This is one of the matters which is being considered by Lord Justice Russell's Committee on the succession rights of illegitimate persons and it would not be right for me to anticipate any recommendations which that Committee may make.
§ Mr. AbseIs the Minister aware that this and many other disabilities suffered by the illegitimate have existed for so long and that committees seem to be so tardy that there is grave anxiety about whether an effective result will come from the committees or from references to the matter in other directions?
§ Sir E. FletcherI am aware of the disabilities to which my hon. Friend refers, but I hope that his anxiety that they will not be allayed is misplaced.