§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what consideration is being given to the anomaly whereby boys and girls, for whom family allowance has been paid, leave school, find employment and then, as the result of accident, become unemployed and are not entitled to unemployment benefit or National Assistance; and whether she will amend the regulations so that such boys and girls are entitled to some statutory benefit.
§ Mr. PentlandI am aware that young people who have not paid the minimum contribution premium cannot qualify for unemployment and sickness benefit under the National Insurance Scheme and that until they are sixteen they cannot claim National Assistance in their own right. I know that difficulties can arise when a boy or girl leaving school under the age of sixteen has not been established in employment long enough to acquire title to insurance benefits. The problem is a rather complex one involving the interaction of different schemes and my right hon. Friend will be giving thought to the question whether anything might18W be done in advance of the raising of the school leaving age to sixteen, when the difficulties will in the main disappear.