§ 10. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the increased allowance which it has been decided to make to dependants of officers and seamen taken prisoners from British merchant ships at sea will apply to the dependants of the captains and officers of British merchant ships who have been interned in Germany since the commencement of the War; and, if not, what increase is proposed to give the maximum allowance of £l per week hitherto paid?
§ Mr. G. ROBERTSThe alteration already made in the scale of allowances does not apply to officers and seamen interned since the commencement of the War. Before considering any general alteration of this kind, I should be glad to have full particulars of any individual cases of hardship which the hon. Gentleman has in mind.
§ 72. Mr. HOGGEasked whether the Statutory Committee have yet come to a decision to extend the scope of Regulation 13 (d), so that when a member of a family 959 in receipt of a separation allowance goes into hospital no deduction shall be made from the allowance?
§ The PENSIONS MINISTER (Mr. Barnes)Regulation 13 (d) already provides for a grant by a local committee when there is a temporary cessation of the State separation allowance, but the grant is limited to a period of six weeks. A Regulation providing for an extension of this period is in course of preparation and I hope it will shortly be issued.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes my right hon. Friend say that there is now an existing Regulation and it is not yet printed?
§ Mr. BARNESThere is an existing Regulation, and another one is in preparation and will shortly be issued extending the period.