HC Deb 01 February 1940 vol 356 c1259
56. Mr. Kennedy

asked the Minister of Pensions whether it is intended that in cases where serving soldiers' wives have been receiving a special children's allowance the special grant should now be automatically reduced by the amount of the increase in the new rates?

Sir W. Womersley

As the grants recommended by the War Service Grants Advisory Committee are based on the fact that the family was suffering serious hardship, and as that hardship is mitigated, in cases where there are children in the home, by the increase in payments made by the Service Departments, the grants recommended by the Committee must necessarily be adjusted on that account.

Mr. Kennedy

Is not this rather a mean committee?

Sir W. Womersley

I should not describe it as anything of the kind. We are dealing with hardship cases and we are dealing with them on fair and square lines.