Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Pensions under what Regulation an orphan pension is refused to the child of a deceased soldier in a case where the mother is also dead; and whether, in a case where the mother re-married and died within three weeks of the remarriage and the stepfather has not been heard of for more than six years, nor at any time contributed to the maintenance of the child, it is considered that the child 1173W is not an orphan who has lost both parents and therefore is only entitled to a pension of 10s. a week in lieu of 12s. per week pension as provided in the Royal Warrant of 1919 for a child whose father died on war service and whose mother is dead?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYArticle 16 of the Warrant prescribes the rate of allowance payable after the re-marriage of a widow. In the event of her death, the same rate continues to be payable unless the child is removed from or ceases to be under the care of its stepfather, in which event the motherless rate contained in Article 18 (1) is issued. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of the case to which he has drawn my attention, I shall be happy to inquire why the higher rate has not been paid.