§ 29. Mr. Pilkingtonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give consideration to lowering the age at which marriage allowances are given to soldiers?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe age limit before which a soldier is not eligible for marriage allowance has been deliberately chosen, having regard to a soldier's liability to movement at relatively frequent intervals.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the cost of this reform would be comparatively small, and that the reform itself is very desirable, and will he not agree to reconsider the matter?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI will always agree to consider any proposal, but there ought to be no doubt or mistake about this—that the Army deliberately appeals to celibates.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes that policy fit in with the general policy of His Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. PilkingtonDoes my right hon. Friend not think that it is a very bad thing that the Army is to appeal only to celibates?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI think that in fixing the marriage age at 26 we have not been unreasonable, because a soldier is subject to frequent moves in the Army, and that imposes hardship on his wife.
§ Mr. LewisWill my right hon. Friend say whether he has received any representations on this subject from the Minister of Health?
§ Mr. BellengerIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, are we to understand that if a recruit applies to join the Army and states that he is married and under this age, he will be refused?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe answer to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Lewis) is that I have received no representations. In answer to the other supplementary question, no married man under 26 is enlisted in the Army unless he can show that his wife is financially independent.
§ Miss WilkinsonCan the Minister say why, if the Army is to appeal only to celibates, he spends so much money dressing them up in nice unifoms?