§ 63. Mr. Pethick-Lawrenceasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the estimated cost of increasing to 5s. a week the allowance for each child of members serving in His Majesty's Forces?
§ Captain CrookshankI regret that there are not sufficient data for an accurate estimate to be made.
§ Mr. Pethick-LawrenceIn view of the great importance and the interest there is on all sides of the House that this matter should be dealt with, cannot the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give some indication of what the additional cost would be?
§ Captain CrookshankNo, Sir, because, first of all, one would have to know how many men would be likely to be requiring it in all the Armed Forces and, secondly, the number of children that those men might have. Without those two facts it would be almost impossible to make a calculation.
§ Mr. Pethick-LawrenceWould not the Government be able to make some estimate?
Viscountess AstorIs it not a fact that there is sufficient data before the Government to show that no child can live on the present allowance?
§ Mr. LipsonOn what principle have the Government worked, in fixing the particular figures now obtaining?