§ 14. Mr. Robert Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether as regards allowances to the children of a woman whom a soldier has married and whose children he has maintained in family, it has now been decided to dispense with the expensive requirement of an adoption order being obtained by the soldier and his wife, and to accept the certificate of some responsible person, namely, a justice of the peace, councillor, or minister of religion, that the children have been so maintained by the soldier?
§ Mr. StanleyNo, Sir. But as I promised in the Debates on Army Estimates, I am looking into the matter again. It 11 is, as I explained, a difficult problem and it affects a number of Departments besides the War Office.
§ Mr. GibsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this requirement in the case of these children is a very serious grievance, and that it is not made in the case of the unmarried woman living with a soldier? Will he keep this in view, and also remember that this matter is considered a very serious grievance on both sides of the Border?
§ Mr. StanleyIt is because the hon. and learned Member made these points on the Estimates that I said I was prepared to reconsider the matter, and I am considering it in connection with other Departments concerned.
§ Mr. George GriffithsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some stepfathers cannot get any allowance for children for whom they receive allowance from the Unemployment Assistance Board?
§ Mr. Lees-SmithIn his consideration of the matter will the right hon. Gentleman take counsel with my hon. and learned Friend?
§ Mr. StanleyI have already had a lot of information from him.