§ Sir LEO CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, owing to the economic inducements offered to poor married men to enlist, a great number of widows and orphans is being created day by day at the cost of enormous present and future liabilities for the State; if he has yet formed any estimate of the provision that will have to be made, in correction of the White Paper [Cd. 7662] issued to the House in November last, which was based upon incomplete premises; and if, in view of the importance of having regard to the financial strength of the country after the War, he will ask the Secretary of State for War to reconsider his present policy of issuing advertisements asking men over thirty-eight to join the Army, seeing that ten out of twelve of such men are married?
§ Mr. McKENNACertain calculations of the cost of the increased separation allowances and pensions recommended by the Select Committee have been made, but it will be obvious to my hon. Friend that the data for a reliable estimate are not available. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the Prime Minister on the 10th instant.
§ Sir CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Under-Secretary for War if he will state for the latest possible date how many separation allowances are being paid in respect of married men who have joined the Army?
§ Mr. FORSTERI regret I am not in a position to give this information.