§ 20. Mr. BYRNEasked the Under-Secretary for War if he will take steps to arrange that separation allowance is paid for all the children of officers in the Army; if he is aware that, under the present regulations, separation allowance is paid for four children only; and if he is aware of the effect of this regulation and the hardships which it imposes on young officers with large families having no other income but their Army pay?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)This question has been fully considered in all its 759 bearings by the War Cabinet Committee. They have not seen their way to recommend the change suggested.
§ M. BYRNEWhy not? Can the right hon. Gentleman say why young officers with large families should be treated in this way?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe arrangement was fully explained at the time it was brought into effect. I think if the hon. Member will refresh his memory he will see the reasonableness of the arrangement.
§ 80. Mr. NEEDHAMasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware of the practice of paymasters only to pay separation allowances to dependants, Class A, from the date of the forms which they acknowledge to have reached them, and that it is not uncommon for forms to go astray, with the result that the dependants are told that no forms have been received by the paymasters, whereupon the respective soldiers have to sign forms a second time, and on receipt of these the paymasters commence payment of separation allowances, with the result that the dependants lose the money due to them from the date of the first papers; and what remedy does he propose for this state of affairs?
§ Mr. FORSTERIf there is satisfactory evidence that a claim was made and the form was lost, the practice is to pay the allowance from the date of the original claim.