HC Deb 20 August 1940 vol 364 c1128
68. Mr. James Griffiths

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the hardships caused in many cases in which a grant is refused by the War Grants Advisory Committee because the son's contribution to the home is assessed on the basis of the unemployment benefit paid to the son immediately before enlistment, and not on his contribution to the home when he was employed; and whether he will consider revising this rule?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions (Miss Wilkinson)

In cases where the period of unemployment before enlistment was brief it is already the practice to assess war service grants on the basis of the wages last earned; but in cases where the unemployment was prolonged different considerations arise in the normal dependency case from those which obtain in a family case where the soldier is the sole means of support. My hon. Friend recognises, however, that there may be exceptional cases, and he is considering the best means of meeting these in consultation with the Advisory Committee.

Mr. Griffiths

Can the hon. Lady give any indication of what is meant by an exceptional case?

Miss Wilkinson

The difference is that where a man is married and has been unemployed it is clear that he is the sole support of the family, but where we have to deal with cases of sons who have been unemployed the amount of support they have given to the family is very limited, and the exceptional case really is where a man has been wholly or mainly the support of the family.