HC Deb 21 September 1915 vol 74 cc296-8
5. Mr. J. P. FARRELL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mrs. Byrne, Longford, whose son was killed at the front and another of whose sons lost his leg in the War, although a poor widow woman, has not so far received any kind of compensation to enable her to live; and whether, whilst awaiting the passage of the Pension and Allowance Bill, there is any fund from which a grant can be made to this woman?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Tennant)

If the hon. Member will state the deceased son's name, regiment, and regimental number, inquiry will immediately be made as to whether Mrs. Byrne is eligible for separation allowance as a dependant, pending the setting up of a scheme of pension for dependants. Meanwhile she might apply to the Royal Patriotic Fund or the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association.

Mr. FARRELL

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that these papers have been at the War Office for some weeks at least?

Mr. TENNANT

No, Sir; I am not aware of that.

Mr. FARRELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire?

Mr. TENNANT

Yes, certainly.

57. Mr. CHARLES DUNCAN

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Metropolitan Police authorities have been stopping from the allowances to the wives of policemen who have enlisted the voluntary allotment made by these men as well as the compulsory allotment of 6d. per day; whether he is aware that, after much correspondence, the police authorities have ceased the deduction of 3s. 6d. per week in the case of Mrs. Bridges, of Portland Town, but have retained, or are delaying to refund, the sums so deducted previously, to the extent of £4 10s.; and will he inquire into the matter with a view to giving instructions for the refund to Mrs. Bridges and the wives of other police officers of all the amounts so wrongfully deducted?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir J. Simon)

The maximum allowance which can be given from police funds to the wife of a police constable who has enlisted is the constable's full pay less the separation allowance and the compulsory allotment. When the constable's Army pay does not exceed 14s. the maximum is granted, but when it exceeds 14s. so that the constable is well able to allot more than 6d. a day to his wife, it is assumed that he will give her one-third of his Army pay, and the allowance from police funds is fixed accordingly. The difficulty in the case of Mrs. Bridges did not arise, as my hon. Friend supposes, from any question as to deducting a voluntary allotment, but from a doubt as to the sum which she was entitled to draw from Army funds on returning to the London postal area from residence in the country, and the necessary inquiries in regard to this occupied some time. On the 13th September she was informed that the sum due to her in respect of arrears would be added to the next instalment of her allowance, and payment was accordingly made on the 17th September.