§ Mr. BARNES(by Private Notice) asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if, in carrying out the recommendations of the Select Committee on Pensions and Allowances, due effect has been given to that relating to dependent mothers of soldiers; is the degree of dependence based on the circumstances of the parties at the time of enlistment, or is a period backward taken to ascertain the degree of dependence; and, if the latter, is effect given to the findings whether telling in favour of or against the mother in any particular case?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe instructions as regards allowances to dependent mothers of soldiers are founded upon the recommendations of the Select Committee, and I believe accurately reflect its intentions. A reasonable discretion, according to the circumstances of each case, is intended to be exercised as regards the period taken into account in assessing the degree of dependence, and the discretionary power thus given to the three authorities concerned in the assessment—the pension officer, the local pension committee, and the Appeal Committee, presided over by my right hon. Friend the Member for St. Pancreas North—should amply secure any particular mother against hardship.
§ Mr. BARNESIs the fact of a man being out of work temporarily taken into consideration at all—is that a bar?
§ Mr. FORSTERThat certainly ought not to be a bar. The whole of the circumstances in each case ought to be taken into account, and the question ought to be decided by common sense.