§ 16. Sir Nicholas Grattan-Doyleasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the conditions which necessitate wives and children of men serving in the Royal Navy having recourse to relief from public assistance committees; and whether, in view of the undesirability of this state of affairs, he proposes to remedy it?
§ The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Duff Cooper)The special difficulties of men serving in the Navy who have married below 25, the qualifying age for marriage allowance, have always been realised, and formed the subject of further 368 representations made by their officers to the Board of Admiralty some weeks ago As a result, the Admiralty are endeavouring to arrange that all cases of actual distress which cannot be dealt with by the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust will be sympathetically considered by the Admiralty Family Welfare Sections at the Home ports to whom they should be represented.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherWill the right hon. Gentleman consult the Secretary of State for War and the Secretary of State for Air with a view to reducing the age of 25, at which they qualify for marriage allowance?
§ Mr. CooperThat is a question of general policy. I am always prepared to consider any suggestions put forward by hon. Members, but whether it would be wise to enter into consultation with other Departments I am not prepared to say.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that it is undesirable that the Navy should be maintained by the Unemployment Assistance Board?
§ Mr. PalingIn view of the alarm in the country at the decrease in the birth rate, will the right hon. Gentleman get into touch with the Minister of Health and hear what he has to say about it?
§ 18. Mr. Dayasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the date of the last occasion on which the marriage allowance pay able to married ratings was reviewed; and whether, in view of the increased cost of living, he is prepared to recommend any further alteration?
§ Mr. CooperMarriage allowance is paid on a sliding scale, the rate of allowances for the 12 months from April to March being determined annually by the cost-of-living index figure on the preceding 1st January. The existing rate due to change in the cost-of-living figure came into operation 1st April, 1931. It will be remember, however, that as from 1st October, 1936, the basic allowance for a wife only, for men on the 1925 scale of pay, was increased by 3s weekly, the rates of allowances for children remaining as before.
§ Mr. CooperIt will be fully considered in the natural course of events.
§ Mr. H. G. WilliamsCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the case of the officers has recently been reviewed?