Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill
3:45 pm
Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat)
My Lords, perhaps I may briefly restate the position of these Benches. After a good deal of discussion we arrived at the common general principle that children should be entitled to share in the increasing wealth of their parents. That means that we cannot support the noble Lord, Lord Higgins, on this amendment. However, were he to choose to press Amendment No. 8, he might receive a different answer.
Perhaps I may raise a slight query about the statement made by the noble Lord, Lord Higgins, that there is nothing in law to say that a child is entitled to a share in the income of its parents. I know of at least one court judgment which appears to me to rest on the contrary principle. However, as I have never been able to find a lawyer willing to expound the principles of that judgment, I cannot clarify the point. Before we return to this matter, as we undoubtedly will, perhaps it would be worth while for all of us to try for a clearer understanding of the legal position than we have at present.