§ 29. Sir B. FALLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that children's allowances are stopped in addition to marriage allowance when a naval rating refuses to live with his wife, through no fault on the wife's part; whether he is aware that such regulations inflict hardship on women and children; and if he will take steps to amend the regulations to permit of the children's allowances being paid to the wife?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe regulations to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers provide that where a naval rating and his wife are separated for reasons not solely due to the exigencies of the service, marriage allowance ceases to be payable to the wife, either for herself or the children. If, however, the children are placed in the care of a guardian other than the wife, the marriage allowance in respect of the children is issuable to such guardian, subject to payment to the guardian by the rating of a qualifying allotment. These regulations are common to the three services, and I am not prepared to amend them.
§ Sir B. FALLEIs it where a naval rating has refused to live with his wife for any definite reason, or without?
§ Major HORE-BELISHACan the hon. Gentleman say why the wife should be put in a worse position when the wife is not at fault? Will he look into the matter.