§ Mr. Hicksasked the Attorney-General what is the number of cases that have been brought to the attention of the Lord Chancellor in the past two years of moneys representing damages that have been invested in the Capital Fund on behalf of infant plaintiffs which have depreciated in value before they reach the age of majority; and what action is being 101W taken to reduce the possibility of this situation occurring in the future.
The Attorney-GeneralThree such cases have been drawn to my noble Friend's attention. The Capital Fund is designed for investments likely to remain undisturbed for at least five years, where it has considerable advantages. In two of the three cases the lowering of the age of majority allowed the minors to withdraw their money after it has been invested for only a comparatively short period. In the remaining case my noble Friend drew the attention of those concerned to the unsuitability of the Capital Fund for short-term investments. He trusts this Question and Answer will serve further to underline this.