HC Deb 25 March 1941 vol 370 cc407-8
10. Captain Duncan

asked the Secretary of State for War the result of his promised review of the arrangements for the payment of allowances and allotments to the next-of-kin of men missing from the British Expeditionary Force and North-West Expeditionary Force?

The Secretary of State for War (Captain Margesson)

On the death of a soldier, the payment of family and dependants' allowance, and of allotments from his pay, is continued for 13 weeks from the date on which the casualty is notified. When a soldier is missing and his fate remains in doubt, payment is continued for 17 weeks from the date on which he is notified as missing. At the end of these periods the dependants, if eligible, receive a pension or a continuing allowance at pension rates. The most careful consideration has been given to a proposal to extend the period beyond 17 weeks, during which allowances and allotments continue to be paid to the dependants of missing men, and other Departments concerned have been consulted. But it was felt that it would be impossible to make this concession to the families of soldiers who were missing but whose fate remained in doubt, without extending it to the families of soldiers who were known to be dead. For this reason, I regret that I am not prepared to extend the period during which allowances, etc., are continued to the dependants of missing men. The position as regards officers is broadly the same, and the aguments against making a change apply with equal force. I would, however, remind my hon. Friend that administrative improvements have recently been made, with a view to preventing any break between the payment of family or dependants' allowance and the payment of a pension or a continuing allowance at pension rates where the dependant is eligible.

Captain Duncan

May I take it that in future there will be no gap between the termination of the payment of the allowance or allotment and the beginning of the payment of the pension, if the case is eligible for pension?

Captain Margesson

That is the object of the administration.