HC Deb 09 September 1941 vol 374 cc4-5
7. Captain Poole

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will, in conjunction with the other Service Departments, institute a further inquiry with a view to the raising of the allowances to the wives and dependants of members of the Forces, as many of these are enduring great privation consequent on the increased cost of living and the inadequacy of their allowances?

Captain Margesson

So far as family and dependants' allowances are concerned, I am afraid that there is nothing that I can add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Clay Cross (Mr. Ridley) on 17th June. As regards family lodging allowance, I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to await the Answer to Questions Nos. 10 and 14 on to-day's Order Paper.

Sir Joseph Nall

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend appreciate that considerable heartburning and hardship are caused by reducing these allowances where employers are also giving allowances, and will he take steps to see that allowances by employers are not taken into consideration?

Captain Poole

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that it is impossible for a man to be an efficient soldier if he is to be harassed by undue anxiety with regard to the position of his dependants, who in many cases are on the verge of starvation?

Captain Margesson

I agree with that, but I do not think that that is the position.

Dr. Edith Summerskill

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman explain how a soldier's wife can adequately clothe and feed a child on 4s. a week?

Captain Margesson

There is an answer to that question later on the Paper.

Mr. Bellengcr

With reference to my right hon. and gallant Friend's reply about the Answer to be given to Questions 10 and 14 affecting these Questions, do not those Questions apply to officers only and have nothing to do with the subject matter of these Questions?

Viscountess Astor

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend consider what an appalling situation it is when you have a soldier's or airman's wife living near a man who is staying at home, not in a safe job, because there are no safe jobs now, who has a rise in wages? That seems to be a question for the Houses of Parliament.