§ 19. Mr. Lipsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the present regulation, by which the wife of an officer can receive an allowance only if the officer applies for it, causes serious hardship to wives whose husbands refuse to exercise this right; and will he arrange that an application from the officer be no longer necessary?
§ Mr. StanleyIn the case of officers, married allowances are paid to the officer and not to the wife, and are issuable only on application by the officer, and subject to a certificate that he is providing for his family. I do not think it is desirable to alter this practice.
§ Mr. LipsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that the present procedure involves hardship where the officer is unwilling to recognise an obligation? What objection is there to making a change?
§ Mr. StanleyIt is a change which, I am sure, would be disagreeable to the vast majority of officers, and it would involve a great deal of extra work. There are not many cases, and they must be very rare, where this difficulty occurs.
§ Mr. LipsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that when a wife takes the matter to the court she is told that her husband is on active service and that nothing can be done; and that, in practice, she has no remedy?