§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the social security benefits which treat illegitimate children and their parents or guardians differently from legitimate children, giving the reason for each case.
§ Mr. NewtonThe benefits are as follows:
- 1. Widowed Mother's Allowance. A widow's illegitimate child would not attract a child dependency addition because national insurance widow's benefit is for the maintenance of the husband's survivors: similar rules apply to war widows and widows receiving industrial death benefit.
- 2. Guardian's Allowance, which is an orphan's benefit, may be paid where the mother of an illegitimate child is dead but the father might be alive but paternity has not been admitted or established. The child is effectively a true orphan.
233 - 3. War Pension Scheme. There are certain circumstances in which allowances are not payable in respect of illegitimate children. I will write to the hon. Member about this.