HC Deb 27 May 1946 vol 423 cc136-7W
90. Mr. Teeling

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why Mrs. Eric Philcox was held up in a hotel in Udine, Italy, which is used as a British bride's hostel, without money since 7th April; why her allowances have been stopped by the naval authorities; and whether, in view of the amount of transport being used by our tourists going to Switzerland for holidays and returning, the wives of British soldiers in Italy will have priority over these holiday crowds.

Mr. W. Edwards

Mrs. Philcox's allotment of 20s. weekly from her husband's pay, with Navy marriage allowance of 21s. 6d. weekly, was being paid by the Naval officer in charge, Trieste, but he was unable to effect payment beyond 28th March as she had leften route for the United Kingdom. She was accommodated in a hotel at Udine, whilst awaiting transport, and the Army welfare authorities made provision for her, which would replace payment of marriage allowance. Servicemen's wives travel by the special arrangements made for the transport of troops, and are not affected by the volume of Swiss tourist traffic.