§ 4. Mr. Walter Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in a case recently submitted to his Department by the hon. Member for Whitechapel, over two-thirds of a man's weekly pay was deducted in respect of a 1413 civil debt, leaving him with only 4s. 1d. per week; and will he reconsider this policy with the object of making a smaller weekly deduction in such cases?
§ Sir J. GriggI have looked into this case and do not consider that a change would be justified in the normal rule whereby a soldier repays his debts as soon as possible, so long as he is left with at least 4s. 1d. a week.
§ Mr. EdwardsDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that a man with just 4s. 1d. a week has hardly anything at all with which to be able to meet his expenses, and could he at least make the figure a litle bit higher?
§ Sir J. GriggI have looked into this particular case, and I do not think it is a very meritorious one.