2. Mr. Royleasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many families of United States servicemen in the United Kingdom are in receipt of child allowances for children born in this country; and how many families of British Service men stationed abroad are in receipt of child allowances for children on overseas stations.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available, but I have no reason to think that the number is other than small. As to the second part, British Service men stationed abroad with their families normally re-receive family allowances under arrangements made by the Service Departments.
Mr. RoyleWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is rather preposterous that these highly paid American service men should be receiving allowances from our Treasury at times like this? Will not he do something better for our Service men who are serving abroad with their families to ensure that they get child allowances?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe hon. Gentleman asked me for numbers, but as he has now asked me for a comment I cannot do better than give him the comment which was made from the Front Bench opposite by the noble Lady, Lady Summerskill, when this Question was last asked two years ago. She pointed out that the majority of wives of American service men in this category are almost certainly British girls.