§ 2. Mr. WHITELEYasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that recruiting is seriously affected owing to the reserve pay of unemployed men being deducted from their allowance; and whether he is prepared to arrange that such reserve pay is not so deducted?
§ 14. Mr. GARRO-JONESasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Unemployment Assistance Board regulations are being administered so as to deduct from the amounts payable to-Army reservists one-half of their reserve pay before the assessment of benefit; and whether, having regard to considerations of equity and of the desirability of maintaining the health and physique of the reserve, he will take steps to ensure that the pay of reservists is left out of account in such assessment?
§ Mr. E. BROWNWith regard to the matter generally, I would refer to the reply given yesterday by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Mr. F. Anderson), of which I am sending the 1381 hon. Members a copy. I would add that I know of no ground for thinking that the board's practice has any adverse effect on recruiting or on the health and physique of reservists, or that it is other than fair and equitable.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman not regard it as a scandal that the men's pensions should be taken into account by the committees?
§ Mr. BROWNThat is the practice in the great majority of committees, and is often more favourable than the local authorities' decisions.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that many of these reservists look forward to the money in order to be able to buy boots for their children, and does he not think that their pensions ought to be ignored?
§ Mr. LENNOX-BOYDIs not one reason for the decline in the Army the persistent propaganda by many Members of the party opposite?
§ Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHSIs not the chief reason that they are getting margarine?