§ Mr. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Pensions at what age the moneys deducted from the pensions of children 1950W are handed over to the unrestricted control of the child to whom the pension was granted; and if the amount so handed to the children includes the capital sum involved and interest?
§ Mr. DENNISONasked the Minister of Pensions what are the maximum and minimum deductions made from certain children's pension allowances; whether the money is placed weekly in the Post Office Savings Bank in the name of the children; and whether the books are in the charge of the women and children's sub-committees of the local war pension committees, so that the guardians or the sub-committees may purchase such clothes as the children require without unnecessary delay?
§ Major TRYONThe only class of child from which at the present time any portion of the weekly allowance or pension is being reserved, while the child is in employment and earning wages, is the class of neglected children who are under my care by virtue of the provisions of Section 9 of the War Pensions Act, 1918. In their case there are no maximum and minimum deductions. The amount reserved is from time to time determined by the advice of the War Pensions Committee, who judge the individual circumstances of each case. Any amounts so reserved are from time to time placed at interest in the Post Office Savings Bank by Pension Issue Office. The book remains in the hands of the. Ministry and not of the War Pensions Committee, but no delay in meeting expenditure, when necessary, arises, because the chief area officer, in conjunction with the committee, is authorised to incur expenditure, when necessary, within a maximum limit without prior sanction from Ministry headquarters. When the child ceases to be under the care of the Ministry the balance standing to his credit may be disposed of in the child's interests and at his request in the purchase of tools, etc., or the bank book which stands in the child's name credited with the balance mentioned, together with the accrued interest thereon, is either handed to the child or to a voluntary worker or a member of the committee acting as the child's friend, according to the circumstances of the case. In any case the beneficiary is given full control of any balance remaining on reaching the age of 21.