§ 18. Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the representations of the corporation of Greenock to him on the question of arrears of rent accruing in municipally-owned housing schemes, through the fact that many householders are now serving with His Majesty's Forces, but allowances to their wives and dependants do not include provision for the payment of rent; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandMy right hon. Friend is in consultation with the Secretary of State for War with regard to these and other similar representations. He is informed that the general position is that the allowances granted to wives and dependants of serving men are intended to assist them in maintaining themselves and meeting their liabilities, which include the payment of rent, while the men are away. If, in a particular case of the wife or dependant of a soldier called up or joining up for service in the present war, the normal allowances are inadequate, for example, owing to high rent, to enable them to meet their liabilities without serious hardship, application can be made to the Ministry of Pensions for consideration of a special allowance by the War Service Grants Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. GibsonDoes not the Minister realise that this matter is a very serious one and that arrears are growing up in Greenock, and, I understand, in other local authorities that have housing schemes?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandI have seen the representations sent in by the Greenock local authority. They do not refer to arrears which have already accumulated, but only to the likelihood of arrears accumulating in future.