§ 28. Mr. FRANK GRAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the, continued high cost of living, he will consider the postponing to a later date than 1st April next of the reduction of 1s. 6d. per week from the allowance to the dependants of serving soldiers which is likely to cause great hardship?
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSUnder Army Order 357 of 1920 the rate of marriage allowance varies according to the cost-of-living index figure, which will be 80 for next year as compared with 90 at present. I cannot undertake to suspend, as proposed, the normal operation of this rule, but I would point out that the reduction of 1s. 6d. quoted by the hon. Member operates only on the high total allowance admissible when the number of children is five or over. For a wife only, no reduction will be made.