§ 77. Sir BERTRAM FALLEasked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether the Military Services Committee who are dealing with civil liabilities in the case of men who have joined up and who can claim either by themselves or by their representatives that such claims may go back to August, 1914; will he say whether, if such a man is purchasing a house or has a mortgage on the same, he can to-day claim a grant towards monthly or quarterly payments, but if such a man were killed in January, 1916, his executors do not get the benefit from the Military Services Committee, though he had the same liability as the man living to-day, who can date back; whether he is aware that these defaults of payment will be to the detriment of his widow and family; and, seeing that if the man were killed after putting in his claim his claim holds good, will he take steps to ensure that this principle holds good for his widow?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERThe scheme administered by the Military Service (Civil Liabilites) Committee applies to men who joined the forces on or after the 4th August, 1914, or are members of the Territorial Force. The assistance granted will generally date from the commencement of the operation of the scheme—that is from the 25th May last—though in exceptional cases a grant may be made in respect of arrears. If a man who has received a grant is killed, the grant may be continued for a period not exceeding twenty-six weeks after his death. The widow of a man who is killed is entitled to a pension, and if, owing to exceptional circumstances, the pension is inadequate, it may be supplemented by the Statutory Committee.