§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the grant of separation allowance to the wife of a sailor is dependent on the husband making an allotment; whether the Admiralty has power to compel a man to make an allotment; whether a man for any reason can deprive his wife both of the allotment and the separation allowance; and whether the rule of the Admiralty in this matter is at one with the rule of the War Office?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe grant of separation allowance in the Navy is dependent on the sailor making allotment, but the Admiralty has no power to compel him to do so. The War Office has power to deduct compulsory sums from the soldier's pay in support of his family, but for the reasons which I gave in yesterday's Debate I am not at present disposed to ask the House for similar powers.