HC Deb 04 February 1941 vol 368 cc782-5
19. Mr. Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the plight of Mrs. Knox, Peebles, a widow, whose two sons are in the Royal Scots; and whether the with- drawal of her dependant's allowance as a result of a visit by a means test inspector was on his instructions or with his approval?

Captain Margesson

Yes, Sir. Mrs. Knox was in receipt of a dependant's allowance at the rate of 20s. 6d. a week from 2nd September, 1939, to 14th July, 1940. On the latter date, when the case came up for review, it was found that a married daughter with a separate income was living with her. My hon. Friend will, of course, be aware that, under the regulations, if a dependant in Mrs. Knox's circumstances was to qualify for allowance, the average income per head of the household, after making certain allowances for rent, etc., must have been less than 15s. a week as the regulations then stood. The per capita income of Mrs. Knox's household, on 15th July, 1940, was, I understand, over 27s. The allowance was, therefore, terminated with effect from 15th July. On 28th December, 1940, there was a change in Mrs. Knox's circumstances as her daughter left the house, and the case would have been reviewed if the change had been brought to notice. It is made clear in the allowance book that the dependant should at once inform the paymaster of any change. The change was not in fact brought to notice until my hon. Friend did so in his telegram of 18th January. On 22nd January a provisional allowance was issued at the rate of 18s. a week with effect from 30th December, that is the Monday following the change, pending investigation of the new circumstances. The principle of an income limit which has governed the treatment of this case was that approved by this House after very full debate. It is implicit in that principle that the Department should take whatever steps are necessary from time to time to review cases with a view to ensuring whether the income limits have so changed as to alter the entitlement to an allowance. No instructions from me were necessary, nor was it necessary for me formally to sanction a course of action which had already received the approval of the House of Commons.

Mr. Robertson

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the married daughter referred to is the wife of a soldier and is entirely dependent upon a soldier's allowance? Is it not therefore the fact that that allowance was expected not only to maintain the wife of the soldier, but the widowed mother of two other soldiers; is it the further fact that, when the hon. Member for Streatham visited this unfortunate woman, he found her in a state of destitution, undernourished and underfed, with only one shilling in the house; and, finally, does my right hon. and gallant Friend believe that he is carrying out the wishes of this House and the public outside in treating anyone like this?

Captain Margesson

At the moment the case was brought to the notice of the War Office action was at once taken, and a provisional allowance was issued. The matter is to be further investigated to see whether the compensation or the allowance which is being paid is the right one, and if it is not, an adjustment will be made.

Mr. Robertson

May I remind my right hon. and gallant Friend that this case was brought to the notice of his junior Ministers three and a half months ago and has been continuously before them ever since, and that it takes a Parliamentary Question to have anything done at all?

Mr. Lawson

Is it not the fact that this woman's daughter has practically been driven out of the house by the prevailing system, and is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this kind of case does not stand alone and that it is time that this system of counting in allotments was stopped?

Captain Margesson

I have acted under the law as passed by this House, and, as I said in my answer, this matter was very fully debated when the Bill passed through the House.

Mr. Silverman

Is it intended to propose the amendment of these Regulations to bring them into line with the proposals now before the House under the Determination of Needs Bill?

Captain Margesson

There is an Inter-Departmental Committee sitting to see how the Regulations at present in operation can be dovetailed into the new Bill now before the House.

Mr. Silverman

If it is found that they are less favourable than those contemplated by the new Bill, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider altering them to make them more favourable?

Captain Margesson

I do not think that I can give a pledge of that sort; I must await the result of my investigations.