Miss Rathboneasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the discouraging effect on efficient soldiers of the regulation under which an allowance paid to the man's dependants, on hardship grounds, is reduced in proportion to his increased pay if he obtains promotion as a non-commissioned officer or a commission, even in cases where his original grant was insufficient to cover the liabilities in respect of which the hardship grant was given; and will he reconsider the regulation?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI do not consider that the procedure of my Department has any discouraging effect. In view of the nature of war service grants it is proper that increased pay of the kind referred to should be reflected in the grant.