§ 12. Mr. Parkerasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that hardship is caused to the families of serving men as the children's allowances now paid cease at the 14th birthday and not at the end of the term they leave school, which is often many weeks later; and whether he will arrange for them to be extended to cover this period?
§ Captain MargessonI think my hon. Friend is under some misapprehension. The allowances in respect of soldiers' children are, under existing regulations, continued after such children attain the age of 14 years so long as they are in whole-time attendance at a school, procided that the conditions governing the allowance otherwise continue to be fulfilled.
§ 11. Mr. T. Smithasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the mother of E. A. Eckersley, 1907614, Royal Engineers, has been informed by the Pay Office that an amount of 5s. per week which she receives from her son's employers from a fund raised from contributions by the employers and their work-people has to be taken into consideration in assessing the amount of her dependant's allowance; and whether this decision is in conformity with the regulations?
§ Captain MargessonI am not aware of the particular case referred to. Dependants' allowance can be issued only in cases where a soldier's dependant is placed in circumstances of hardship through the soldier's inability to continue to make, after he joins the Colours, a contribution to the maintenance of the dependant on the same scale as before his enlistment. In order to determine whether hardship exists in any case, the resources of the dependant after the soldier joins the Colours are assessed in accordance with rules which were set out fully in the White Paper of March, 1940 (Cmd. 6186). Subject to the limitations there described, all sources of income in the dependant's household are taken into account in determining the eligibility of the dependant for an award.
§ Mr. SmithDoes my right hon. and gallant Friend appreciate that these contributions by employers and workmen are intended to be in addition to what they receive in the ordinary way? May I send particulars to my right hon. and gallant Friend?
§ Captain MargessonCertainly, Sir.
§ Mr. Rhys DaviesIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that because the War Office takes into account ex-gratia payments made to serving men by some employers those employers are considering reducing such payments or stopping them altogether?