§ Captain Pluggeasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether civilians, who have lost their lives or were wounded in carrying back members of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk, will be treated, so far as pensions and medical treatment are concerned, on exactly the same lines as fighting men?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI have been asked to reply. I presume the hon. and gallant Member refers to the volunteers who manned the numerous craft which took part in the evacuation. The intention is that the cases arising shall be treated as Naval auxiliary personnel.
§ Mr. Higgsasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that a widow with three children receives 1018W 42s. 9d. per week from the Birmingham public assistance committee as poor relief, assuming the weekly rental of her house to be 10s.; and can he see his way clear to consider increasing the allowances to men serving in His Majesty's Forces to a like amount?
§ Miss WilkinsonAny question as to the family allowances payable by the Service Departments is a matter for those Departments. Cases in which serious hardship to a serving soldier's family is involved by his war service can be met by way of supplementary grants by my hon. Friend, with the advice of the War Service Grants Advisory Committee. For this purpose, each case is judged in the light of the individual circumstances.