§ 27 and 54. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked (1) what instructions have been issued by the Local Government Board for Scotland to pension officers when ascertaining the extent to which relatives of soldiers were dependent upon them prior to enlistment, and when computing the deductions to be made for board and lodgings in cases where the soldier was living with his mother or other relative before enlistment and paying such relatives a portion of his wages; and (2) what instructions have been issued to pension officers when ascertaining the extent to which relatives of men who have enlisted in the Army were dependent upon them prior to enlistment, and when computing the deductions to be made for board and lodgings in cases where the soldier before enlistment was living with his mother or other relative and paying such relative a proportion of his wages?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. H. Baker)The instructions to pension officers, which are issued by the Board of Customs and Excise for the whole of the United Kingdom, direct that in estimating the actual profit derived from a soldier the cost of his board should be deducted, but not the cost of his lodging Attention has also been directed to the fact that the absence of one member of a family will in many cases increase the household expenditure per individual, and pension officers are therefore required to consider what sum, within the amount paid to the dependant by the soldier before enlistment would in such cases place the dependant in approximately the same condition of comfort as when the soldier was at home. My hon. Friend will find this fully stated in paragraph 8 of the Special Report of the Select Committee.
§ Mr. BAKERThese are the instructions to pension officers, which have applied ever since the date they were issued.