§ Mr. W. JONESasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Glenville Glanmore Jones, of Newcastle Emlyn, the orphaned child of parents who were not married but who were both insured, the mother having died in 1920 and the father, who while he lived contributed regularly to the boy's support, in 1928; and whether, seeing that a claim for an orphan's pension has been rejected on the ground that the child is not an orphan within the meaning of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, in a case which involves, as this does, exceptional hardship, he will exercise discretion in favour of the applicant?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI find that the facts are as stated in the first part of the question; as regards the second part the hon. Member is undo a misapprehension in thinking that I have a discretion in the matter. I have no power to award a pension where the conditions of the Act are not complied with.