§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that difficulties are being experienced by men serving in the Army in securing consideration of their claims for special allowances in respect of their financial obligations; and whether he will take steps to facilitate consideration of these claims?
§ Sir V. WarrenderI have no evidence that the machinery for considering claims for special assistance is working unsatisfactorily. It may assist if I inform the hon. Member that the requisite form of application is to be obtained from the regimental paymaster of the unit to which the soldier belongs. The paymaster will inform the applicanťhow to proceed.
§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider continuing payment of allowances to children of men serving in the Army from 14 years to 16 years of age in cases where the child continues at school up to that age?
§ Sir V. WarrenderInstructions are about to be issued authorising the payment of family allowance in respect of soldiers' children, otherwise eligible, who remain at school after the age at which attendance is compulsory.
§ Mr. Tomlinsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that families of serving soldiers are applying to the public assistance committees for relief, owing to the inadequacy of the allowances; and will he consider revising the scales immediately?
§ Sir V. WarrenderThe present scales of family and children's allowances for serving soldiers have been in existence for a considerable time and are common to all three Service Departments. If the hon. Member is referring to soldiers who 2097W have joined the Colours for service in connection with the present war, it is recognised that there may be cases of harship which are not met by the normal scale of allowances, and in such cases the soldier has access to the Military Service (Special Allowances) Advisory Committee.