§ 34. Mr. DUNCAN GRAHAMasked the Minister of Pensions if he will consider the advisability of amending the regulations governing the payment of war pensions by which a man can refuse to permit any part of his pension to be paid to his wife, even though he has deserted her and she is in receipt of public assistance?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)Legislation would be necessary to bring about the object which the hon. Member has in view, and I am not prepared to recommend that the House should adopt a course which would have 1104 the effect of limiting the statutory right of an ex-service man to the pension awarded to him personally on account of his war disablement.
§ Miss RATHBONEWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether the statutory right of an ex-service man really involves the right to desert his wife and throw her keep on to the public assistance authority, and will he not consider bringing in legislation to make such a thing impossible?
§ Major TRYONI am not prepared to deprive an ex-service man of the compensation paid to him on account of his wounds in order to maintain a wife with whom he is not living.
§ Mr. GRAHAMDoes that apply in the case of a man who has deserted his wife?
§ Major TRYONIn the case that the hon. Gentleman has put to me no part of that compensation is payable to the wife. The whole of it is payable to the man on account of his wounds and that wife is not entitled to any particular allowance.
§ Mr. GRAHAMIs not a man liable to support his wife under the law; if he is, is there any good reason why an ex-service man should be put in a more privileged position than an ordinary member of the community?
§ Major TRYONI think the wounds pension ought to be treated with careful consideration, and it is no part of my duty to deprive an ex-service man of a part of his income.