HC Deb 15 October 1946 vol 427 cc777-9
38. Mr. George Wallace

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is prepared to consider an adjustment of the new pay code whereby marriage allowances may be granted to men called up to the Services who are below the age of 21 and are married.

78. Mr. Frederick Lee

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that marriage allowances are not being paid to wives whose husbands are being called to the Forces while they are less than 21 years of age; and if he will take immediate steps to rectify this position.

83. Dr. Comyns

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the hardship which is occasioned, he will amend the regulation which denies a marriage allowance to the wife of a soldier under 21 years of age.

105. Mr. Cecil Manning

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that hardship is suffered by wives of married soldiers under 21 years of age who, under the new Code, are not eligible to receive marriage allowances; that cases have arisen of recourse to public assistance and if he will restore the 1939 position by amending the Code.

Mr. Bellenger

My hon. Friends are presumably referring to men called up under war-time arrangements and not to Regular soldiers who enlist voluntarily. Men called up for service, if they are married and under 21 years of age, are eligible to apply for war service grants. Application should be made in the first instance to the commanding officer.

Mr. Wallace

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in many cases I have written in to the War Office and the reply I have been given today is exactly the same as I had before? Is he further aware that this is a ridiculous situation? Cupid does not wait for K.Rs. and A.C.Is., and I think he had better adopt the slogan. "Fit for fighting, fit for marriage."

Mr. Lee

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the grants referred to are made from the Ministry of Pensions and not from the War Office, and that in the interim of many weeks dependants are compelled to get local assistance boards to give them public assistance?

Mr. Bellenger

In answer to the first part of that question, that is the normal procedure, because the Ministry of Pensions administers war service grants. As to the latter part of the question, that is certainly not my desire, and I will do all I can to see that as soon as they join up they have facilities for getting these grants.

Major Bramall

Will my right hon. Friend please say what is meant in the White Paper on the subject of Service pay and allowances by "special arrangements being made for soldiers under 21"?

Mr. Bellenger

I think that was in reference to the point I have just made.

Captain Chetwynd

Would it not be simpler and more desirable to make a direct payment to these people, rather than have a war service grant on a means test?

Mr. Bellenger

It would be simpler, but there are various administrative difficulties in the way, and the effect of this procedure is that these men do not in the main lose any pay.