§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office will consider the application of Mrs. E. Gallagher, of Cordiver, 1827W Ballyshannon, country Leitrim, for separation allowance out of her son, Private Thomas Gallagher, No. 7,595, Irish Guards; and whether this woman, who is illiterate, is to be deprived of her allowance owing to her omitting to state that she was receiving it when applying for the old age pension?
§ Mr. FORSTERMrs. Gallagher's claim has been very carefully considered, but I am afraid that her dependence on the support of her son before his enlistment has not been satisfactorily established.
§ Major NEWMANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of cases having occurred whereby, by the death of the father, the mother of a soldier who up till then was in good circumstances, and in respect of whom the soldier had not therefore made any allotment, becomes in straitened circumstances; whether the son is now precluded, owing to the answer made by him previously from making an allotment; and, if so, whether he will take steps to allow of this being done?
§ Mr. FORSTERA soldier can make an allotment of pay to his mother at any time; but, in accordance with the decision of the Select Committee, each allotment does not carry separation allowance from Army funds unless the mother was in fact dependent upon the soldier before his enlistment.