§ 10. Colonel LESLIE WILSONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, under Paragraphs 98 to 100 of Army Separation Allowances, if a soldier who is already in receipt of separation allowance for a dependant fails to give a fortnight's notice of his intended marriage to his commanding officer his wife is debarred from receiving separation allowance until the date following that to which dependancy allowance has been issued; whether in most cases, after the necessary forms have been completed, a month or more elapses before dependancy allowance is stopped; whether every step is taken to bring the regulations about marriage, whilst serving, to the notice of the soldier; and whether. the Government propose to take any steps to remove a hardship which leaves wives destitute for weeks?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)The rule is as stated. I am not aware that a month generally elapses before the change is effected, but I will inquire into any specific cases my hon. and gallant Friend may bring to my notice, and shall then be in a better position to say whether any action is called for. The rule was published in Army Orders, and is repeated in a leaflet supplied to the Army units and to all post offices.
§ Mr. HOGGECan my hon. Friend say by whose authority anybody has the right to demand of a soldier that he shall give a fortnight's notice of the fact that he is going to get married? What right has the War Office to interfere with that?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt is the duty of the War Office to see that separation allowance in respect of soldiers are properly paid.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs a serving soldier, who has fixed the date upon which he has been married, not entitled to produce the certificates and get the separation allowance from that date? What right have the War Office or the Admiralty to interfere with a man's personal liberty?
§ Mr. FORSTERWe have not done so.