§ 34. Mr. Buchananasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of soldiers' wives have received from the War Office a book containing vouchers for weekly payment of their allowances; that a number of forms in the book have been torn in half; that no explanation was given as to the reason for this; that it has since been stated that the money was withheld owing to the Unemployment Assistance Board having made certain payments; and by what authority he has withheld these payments, in view of the undertakings given that the Unemployment Assistance Board would not claim a refund of any payments they had made?
§ Mr. StanleyAs regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a previous Question of his on the same subject on 23rd January. As regards the last part, I understand that no refund is in fact claimed by or made to the Unemployment Assistance Board in these cases, but the Board notify the Army paymaster of any payments made to soldiers' wives pending issue of family allowance with a view to avoiding as far as possible a double issue from public funds for the same period. The paymaster withholds from any arrear payments of the allowance, which would otherwise be issuable,an amount equal to the Board's payment, but, if the latter is in excess of any arrears in hand, the arrears only are withheld and there is no reduction in current payments. This action is taken in conformity with the principle that family allowance is not issuable concurrently with maintenance from other sources at the public expense.
§ Mr. BuchananCan the Minister tell me under what authority the War Office withholds in this way money due to a person?
§ Mr. StanleyThe principle is that this allowance is not payable when a dependant receives maintenance from another public source.
§ Mr. BuchananBut you have not told me from whom you derive that authority, and how do you know that a person has received the unemployment assistance money? These persons are not consulted, and surely they have a right to be consulted in the matter.
§ Mr. StanleyThe hon. Gentleman raised this matter in debate some days ago, and in view of that fact I have given instructions that the dependant shall be supplied with a statement of account, including the amounts which the Unemployment Assistance Board say they have paid, so that if there is a mistake it can be put right.
§ Mr. BuchananI beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter, and that contained in the two previous Questions I have put on the Paper to-day, at the first available opportunity.