86. Mr. PRESTONasked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that a number of women aliens, the wives of Russians who returned to Russia sooner than join the Army, have been receiving permanent poor relief for over twelve months; is the amount so expended in poor relief repaid to the Poor Law authorities on his instructions; and, as a result of instructions given by the Local Government Board, do these Russian women receive better financial treatment than a destitute Englishwoman?
§ Major ASTORThe payments to which the hon. Member apparently refers are allowances paid to the dependants of Russians who returned to Russia for military service in compliance with the terms of the Anglo-Russian (Military Service) Convention. The allowances, which are usually at the rate of 12s. 6d. for a wife and 3s. for each child, are only paid in necessitous cases; they are not Poor Law 1452 relief, and are provided from Government funds administered through the agency of boards of guardians.