HC Deb 23 January 1940 vol 356 cc346-9
2. Mr. John Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the usual allowances are paid by the War Office to wives and children of men serving from whose pay deductions are made and forwarded to the dependants on account of court separation orders?

Mr. Stanley

Where the amount stopped from a soldier's pay in respect of a court Order for the maintenance of his wife or children falls short of the amount prescribed in the Order, no allowance from Army funds is paid; but, if the stoppage is appreciably less than the amount which the man was in fact contributing towards the support of the parties concerned before being called up, it may be supplemented by the grant of a special allowance from the Ministry of Pensions if this course is recommended by the War Service Grants Advisory Committee.

Mr. Morgan

Does not the Minister admit that these women are still the wives of the serving men? Therefore, why are they discriminated against, seeing that other wives are given a supplementary allowance?

Mr. Stanley

This is a very difficult subject and a deputation is coming to see me on the subject at an early date, of which deputation I know the hon. Gentleman will be one.

7. Mr. Dobbie

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the difficulty and hardship caused to dependants of the armed Forces of the Crown by the increase in the cost of living, he will consider the possibility of granting an additional allowance on a sliding scale, based on the increase in the cost of living since the date the present rates of allowances came into operation?

Mr. Stanley

No provision is made in Army dependants' allowance regulations for a review of the scale of payments on the ground of a change in the cost of living, and such a review could only be undertaken as part of a general reconsideration of similar fixed payments.

20. Captain Sir William Brass

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that under A.F.0700–1 paragraph c, a widow is unable to get dependants' allowance on account of her son if he has been unemployed for six months prior to enlistment, as the unemployment payment being low, the mother is presumed not to be dependent upon the son; and whether, in view of the hardship caused by this rule he will consider its amendment?

Mr. Stanley

The dependants' allowance scheme referred to is designed to provide for cases in which men who have been called to the colours are unable to continue to contribute towards the support of dependants at the same rate as they were doing before being called up. Where, for whatever reason, this situation does not obtain, awards cannot be made under the scheme; but, in such circumstances as are referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, it is possible for the Ministry of Pensions to grant a special allowance if this course is recommended by the War Service Grants Advisory Committee after investigation of the circumstances.

Sir W. Brass

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this rule causes great hardship to the poorer families in the areas where unemployment is rife. Will he consider that?

Mr. Stanley

I do not know whether, in the cases which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind, application has in fact been made to the War Service Grants Advisory Committee set up to deal with these cases.

Mr. T. Williams

Where application has been made for special grants in view of very special circumstances, would any grant date back to the time of enlistment?

Mr. Stanley

I must ask the hon. Gentleman to give notice of that Question.

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr. Glenvil Hall:

40. To ask the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the resolution passed by the Saddleworth Urban District Council, West Riding, and sent to him urging the Government to expedite the payment of allowances to the dependants of men serving in His Majesty's Forces and deprecating the unnecessary suffering caused by present delays; and what answer he proposes to make thereto?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. The Resolution referred to in this Question was sent to the Prime Minister and I accordingly put the Question down to him. He was good enough to do me the courtesy to tell me that he had transferred it to the Secretary of State for War. With all respect to the Secretary of State for War, this Council would like to have a reply from the head of the Government, and may I ask you, Sir, what remedy an ordinary member has in this matter?

Mr. Speaker

The same ruling which I always give that the Minister responsible is the proper Minister to answer a Question.

Mr. Hall

With all respect, this Question was addressed to the Prime Minister and not to the Secretary of State.

Mr. Speaker

As the Prime Minister is not primarily responsible he transferred the Question to the Secretary of State for War.

Mr. Stanley

I have received the resolution. Every effort is being made to expedite the investigation and payment of dependants' allowances, and men can now prepare a claim when they report for medical examination. This should enable payment of the allowance, if admissible, to begin as soon as the man has joined for duty.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that in fact there are still a very large number of delays, and most of us are still getting a very large post-bag almost daily making complaints of this kind, and will he look into the matter again?

Mr. Stanley

We discussed this matter in the House last week, although I do not think the hon. Member was present, and I explained then that everything was being done to expedite it, and also that in a number of cases the delay was not due to the fault of the War Office but in part to the soldier or the dependant in not sending in the form.

Mr. Thorne

Will not the reply of the right hon. Gentleman have the same weight as if it were from the Prime Minister?

Mr. Stanley

I hope so.