49. Miss Wardasked the Prime Minister whether in view of their exclusion from the benefits of the White Paper, he will consider the improvement of allowances to dependants of Service personnel.
§ The Prime MinisterCertain modifications of the dependants' allowance scheme are under consideration.
50. Miss Wardasked the Prime Minister whether in view of the fact that there are childless wives in areas where women's work is not available and the homes of Service men have to be kept going, he will reconsider the position of allowances to childless wives for whom work cannot be found.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. As indicated in paragraph 18 of the White Paper, it is open to childless wives whose circumstances are exceptional to apply to the War Service Grants Committee.
§ Mr. KirbyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that junior officers up to the rank of captain are still receiving less, in childless wife allowance, than men in the ranks?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think such cases are numerous or serious, but I believe there are some cases where an officer actually loses by receiving the King's Commission. I certainly think that the hon. Gentleman is right in drawing attention to such cases when they occur. The matter should be considered, because otherwise it is invidious.
Miss WardAre these cases being considered by the Service Departments, with a view to rectifying the anomalies?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir, certainly by the Service Departments.
51. Miss Wardasked the Prime Minister whether in view of the inclusion of new pensions proposals in the White Paper on which the Informal Committee had no opportunity of offering advice and which was not part of its work, he will reappoint the Committee to discuss this question.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The new War Pensions provisions represent a considered decision by the Government, and I do not think any useful purpose would be served by re-opening the informal discussions with hon. Members as suggested.
Miss WardIn view of the fact that the original Debate took place on the Army Estimates, and therefore it would not have been in Order to discuss pensions, does my right hon. Friend not think it is rather unfortunate that the Informal Committee should not have been consulted before pensions were mixed up with the White Paper? Would it not have been more courteous to the House?
§ The Prime MinisterI should very much regret to see any discourtesy shown, but I should think one would have to search rather far and elaborately to find any in this.