§ 37. Mr. Abseasked the Attorney-General what are the terms of reference of the proposed inquiry into the rights of illegitimate children; whether the terms of inquiry will include a review of the working of the Affiliation Proceedings Act 1957, to enable consideration to be given to vesting the right of maintenance in the child, to increasing the present maximum payment of 50s. a week, to ending the present bar to proceedings 12 months after the birth of the child, and to permitting affiliation orders to be enforced against the estate of a deceased putative father; when the inquiry will commence; and what will be its composition.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe committee's terms of reference will be to consider whether any alterations are desirable in the law of succession in England and Wales and in Scotland in relation to illegitimate persons. The committee will not be concerned with the working of the Affiliation Proceedings Act, 1957, or any of the other matters to which the hon. Member for Pont pool (Mr. Abse) refers. I am not yet in a position to announce the composition of the committee, but the intention is that the inquiry should start as soon as possible.