§ 33. Sir William Waylandasked the Secretary of State for War why, when a soldier's wife enters a rate-aided institution, the dependants' allowance is immediately stopped, although the soldier continues to receive the pay of a married man; and why the allowance is not paid to the local authority towards the maintenance costs?
§ Mr. SandysFamily allowance is issued in order to assist a soldier in meeting the expense of maintaining and accommodating his family. If a soldier's wife without children enters a rate-aided institution, her allowance is withheld. At the same time, the regimental paymaster authorizes the issue of full pay to the soldier, unless he wishes a voluntary allotment to be paid to his wife. As regards the second part of the Question, it would be contrary to present policy for any payment to be made from Army funds to the local authority in such cases.
§ Mr. Neil MacleanIs it not the case that all these rate-aided institutions make a charge to the inmates where they believe that the charge can be met? Is that too deep for the Minister to answer?