§ 29. Mr. Parkerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty since when 25 has been the minimum age for the payment of marriage allowances to naval ratings; and to what deliberations the Admiralty refer when they say, in their decision on request No. 39 of the review of service conditions, 1936, that the conditions governing marriage allowance were settled after consideration of the requirements of all three Services?
§ Sir S. HoareThe age of 25 has been the qualifying age for the payment of marriage allowance to naval ratings since marriage allowance was introduced in 1920. It was adopted as the qualifying age on the recommendation of an Inter-Departmental Committee which made a careful examination of the needs of the three Services.
§ Mr. ParkerWould the Government consider reducing the age to 21, in order to encourage the raising of the birth rate?
§ Sir S. HoareNo, Sir, I could not give that undertaking.