HC Deb 16 April 1940 vol 359 cc777-8
22. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered a communication from the burgh council of Leslie asking that all men in the Services be paid a definite rent allowance: and whether he is yet in a position, in consultation with the Service Departments, to announce when some such payment will be introduced?

Mr. Stanley

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy (Mr. Kennedy) on 14th March last.

Mr. Gallacher

Is the Minister not aware of the very deep feeling of discontent in connection with this question? Is it not time that something very definite was done in the matter?

Mr. Stanley

It was precisely in order to meet any cases such as these where rent caused excessive hardship that the War Service Grants Advisory Committee was set up. It is by supplementation from them that any cases of abnormally high rents should be met.

Mr. Gallacher

Was the question before the Minister, and was it not already stated that consideration should be given to a decision of the Minister covering rents in general instead of the matter being left for individual cases to go to the committee?

Sir Herbert Williams

Has my right hon. Friend any information about the rent allowances paid to the wives of Russian soldiers who were in Finland and Poland?