§ 34. Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Labour whether, in the case of a one-man 597 business where the owner is called up for service, a grant will be made to provide wages for a competent substitute to carry on the business and thereby enable the house hold to get the income from the business and at the same time save the business for the conscript?
§ The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Sir Victor Warrender)I have been asked to reply. The Military Service (Special Allowances) Advisory Committee is being set up to consider applications for monetary assistance to meet serious hardship in the case of those who are unable, by reason of undergoing a course of training, or being called out for service, to meet their financial obligations.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister prepared to say that this committee has the power and the finance to meet such a case as I have supposed in the question; and is the Minister aware that otherwise a very large number of young lads will be stranded after serving six months and will suffer very grave injustice?
§ Sir V. WarrenderIf the hon. Gentleman will look at the White Paper he will see it stated there:
Assistance may be granted to those who are unable by reason of their service to meet their financial obligations, whereby serious hardship is caused.It will be for them to establish the hardship.
§ Mr. MathersDoes that mean that a strict means test is to apply in all these cases, and, if so, does the Minister not appreciate that there will be very keen resentment on this matter in many parts of the country?
§ Sir V. WarrenderNo, Sir. I do not think that is the case. It is a question of establishing hardship.