HC Deb 19 February 1918 vol 103 c620
66. Major NEWMAN

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, now that the military convention between Russia and this country has been denounced by the former, he will say whether his Board will continue to pay separation allowance to the wives and dependants of men who left the country ostensibly to join the Russian Army, since disbanded; and could he see his way to maintain such dependants by means of a local tax levied weekly on their well to-do compatriots who arc still allowed to undertake trade and business in London and elsewhere?

Mr. WALSH

As my right hon. Friend previously informed the hon. and gallant Member, the allowances to which he refers are only paid when the dependants are necessitous, and for the present and until the position is less obscure it is proposed to continue the existing arrangement. I do not think that the suggestion contained in the latter part of the question is a practical proposition.

Major NEWMAN

When the position becomes less obscure, will the hon. Gentleman see to it that English wives of Russians are not left destitute?

Mr. WALSH

That is a point that would receive the very fullest consideration from the first.