§ 74. Mr. DAWESasked the Minister of Health whether his Department has intimated to boards of guardians that the 1125 Government Grant hitherto made to the British-born wives of interned and repatriated aliens will cease oh the 31st December next, thus throwing such persons on to the local rates; and whether, as the internment and repatriation of the above-mentioned aliens was a national and not a local measure, is it the Board's policy that the maintenance of their dependants should be provided by the Exchequer, particularly as the majority of such dependants will become chargeable on the poorer Metropolitan unions?
§ Sir T. WALTERSBoards of guardians have been warned that the wives of interned and repatriated aliens who have been in receipt of the Government allowances must not expect a continuance of these allowances after the 3Ist December next. These allowances were authorised by the Treasury as an act of grace during the War, but this charge upon Exchequer Funds cannot be continued indefinitely, and I do not think that the guardians whose rates have been relieved by these grants while the expenditure was at its highest have much cause for complaint if the grants are withdrawn when the expenditure in respect of these cases is rapidly diminishing.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill that apply to British-born wives of Russians who are not being allowed into the country, although nothing criminal is known against them?
§ Sir T. WALTERSI must have notice of that question.