§ Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Pensions whether he proposes to seek the necessary powers which will allow him to make allowances to mentally or physically incapacitated war orphans which now cease at the age of 21, although brothers and sisters who were dependent on the dead soldier are allowed to draw allowances while their incapacity and need exists?
§ Mr. F. O. ROBERTSIt is a well-recognised principle of pensions administration that the liability of the State in respect of the children of ex-service men should not extend beyond the attainment of their majority, and after the fullest consideration the Government have not found it possible at this stage to contemplate any general departure from this principle. I am, however, impressed by the special claim of the invalid child of the deceased ex-service man who has also become motherless before the age of 21, and I am glad to inform my hon. Friend648W that I have obtained power, where public provision is not otherwise made, to continue pension beyond the age of 21 in this class of case if the infirmity on account of which the pension has been extended from 16 to 21 still lenders the child totally and permanently incapable of earning a living. I am taking immediate steps to give effect to this extension.