asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the distressing position of certain incapacitated war orphans as a result of the regulation which precludes allowances being paid after the age of 21, he will endeavour to secure the necessary alteration so that, in the case of totally incapacitated orphans, allowances can be continued?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will seek Parliamentary authority to enable him to grant a continuance of allowance previously made in appropriate cases of necessity where children of ex-service men who died in the War have reached the age of 21 years, still have a mother living, but are suffering from such infirmity as prevents them from supporting themselves?

No, Sir. My hon. and gallant Friends' proposal would destroy an important principle which has been rightly maintained by successive Governments. In all the cases referred to the surviving parent is in receipt of a pension, and the effect of this proposal would be to create a second generation of adult war pensioners. The grant of a pension in these cases could not be justified as war compensation, since the infirmities of these men and women can in no way be connected with war service, and they are already provided for under statutory powers by the public social services of the country.

Is not my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that many of these children were babies born in the early days of the War, and that, owing to the stress and strain of the circumstances of the day, they were handicapped before they were brought to life?

I do not know any foundation for that suggestion. Some of these so-called babies were born long before the War and mentally afflicted before the War, and therefore that affliction could not be due to the War.

Has my right hon. and gallant Friend given due consideration to the phrase in my question, "appropriate cases of necessity"?

It is not possible to distinguish. The principle is one which must be maintained, and that has been the attitude of all Governments.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend quite sure that in all these cases, had the parents survived, they would not have been contributing to the support of these children?

It is perfectly certain that this is a proposal to give pensions for life to the next generation. It is evident that the parents could not have continued pensions for life to their children?

Have not the Government been giving pensions for life for over a hundred years?

I was not aware that the Labour party were in favour of perpetual pensions.