HC Deb 26 June 1919 vol 117 cc368-9W
Major BARNES

asked the Pensions Minister if he is aware that at the last meeting of the Newcastle-on-Tyne guardians they had before them an applicant for relief, a woman with three children under the age of fourteen years, whose destitution was due to the re-enlistment of her husband in the Russian Relief Force and the delay in the issue to her by the military authorities of separation allowance; that the husband was demobilised on the 15th February and re-enlisted on the 15th May; that on the date of the application to the guardians, the 30th May, no payments on account of separation allowance had been made; that the woman had applied to the war pensions committee and the Lord Mayor's relief fund; that they were unable to grant assistance owing to the instructions contained in the circular letter received by them from the Ministry of Pensions dated the 14th May, 1919; and that the guardians granted relief to the extent of 35s. for one week and passed a resolution strongly protesting against dependants of re-enlisted soldiers being obliged to apply to the Poor Law for assistance in circumstances such as are stated above; and what action he proposes to take in this case?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

I am aware of the delay which has occurred in the issue of separation allowances to the wives and dependants of re-enlisted men, and I have now made arrangements by which local war pensions committees can make advances of separation allowance, on behalf of the War Office, in cases such as that to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. I am sending him a copy of the circular issued to the local committees.