HC Deb 24 October 1946 vol 428 cc11-2W
76. Mr. Marlowe

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will introduce amending legislation to enable children's allowance to be paid in respect of the single child of a widow of a Serviceman killed in the late war; and what would be the estimated cost of such payment being made.

Mr. J. Griffiths

No, Sir. Such an extension of the Family Allowances scheme could clearly not be limited to this class of case. The cost of such an extension, if it could be so limited, would be about £400,000 a year at the present time.

77. Mr. Marlowe

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that great numbers of applicants, some of whom applied as much as six months ago, are still not receiving children's allowances to which they are entitled and that applicants to his Department have to wait an average of three months before getting decisions; and if he will expedite the grant of this allowance.

Mr. J. Griffiths

The general position is, I consider, reasonably satisfactory. Out of 2,530,000 claims received up to Monday last 2,400,000 have been decided and in all but 90,000 of these the claimant has been informed. Where delay has occurred it has in most cases been caused by the need for detailed investigation. I am inquiring into a small number of cases which have been brought to my notice in which there seemsprima facie to have been undue delay, but now that the initial pressure is over, and the staff are established in more convenient offices, I am confident that cases of this kind will soon be reduced to very small proportions, if not eliminated altogether.

81. Sir F. Sanderson

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that the most deserving and needy families are denied the extra benefit for the rearing of families that family allowances were intended to provide and, in view of this, if he will take such steps as may be necessary to ensure payment of family allowances irrespective of any other payment from public funds.

Mr. J. Griffiths

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Swingler) and the hon. Member for Tiverton (Mr. Amory) on 10th October last, a copy of which I am sending him.