§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a communication was received at the War Office, dated 25th January, on behalf of Private Alfred Hart, No. 313, 5th Middlesex Regiment, who enlisted on 26th August, 1914, at Pound Lane Barracks, Willesden, went to the front, and was wounded and subsequently died of consumption; whether he is aware that no allowance has been made to his wife since 31st December; and whether the wife is entitled to twenty-six weeks' separation allowance from the date of the man's death?
§ Mr. FORSTERPrivate Hart was discharged from the Army medically unfit on the 31st December, 1915, and the issue of separation allowance thereupon correctly ceased. There appears to be no record of this soldier having been wounded or of his serving at the front. He died on the 17th February last while his case was being investigated by the Chelsea Board. His widow is not entitled to any further issue of separation allowance, but her case for a widow's pension is now being considered.
§ Mr. HOGGEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in determining pensions to dependants, account is taken of the potential help which the deceased soldier would have brought to his parents and others, or only the actual help they were giving at the moment of enlistment?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe pensions payable to dependants from Army funds are based upon the state of affairs for a reasonable period before enlistment. It is open to the Statutory Committee to take potentialities into account, if it should see fit.
§ Captain CASSELasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that in many districts soldiers' wives requiring treatment are compelled to go to an infirmary or a sanatorium by reason of hospital accommodation not being available, and thereby lose their separation allowances and are treated as paupers; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Captain CASSELasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will consider the advisability of allowing soldiers' wives entering an infirmary or 1224W sanatorium to retain their separation allowances, a reasonable amount out of such allowances being paid to the guardians or other authority?
§ Mr. FORSTERWhen a soldier's wife leaves her home under the conditions named, the allowances payable to the children are raised to the motherless rate, but if the institution is supported out of the rates, no payment in relief of rates is made unless the soldier was himself making one. In that case it is continued, within the amount available. If the institution is not supported out of the rates, there is no bar to payment. The soldier's allotment is paid to the wife while in a rate-supported institution, for her personal use. These arrangements appear to me to meet the situation adequately.
§ Mr. P. WHITEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state the amount of the original allowance to the dependants of Private John Wall, No. 6396, No. 4 Company, 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, Expeditionary Force, France, upon the strength of which he offered himself for service; the amount which they now receive; and the cause of the reduction?
§ Mr. FORSTERI cannot find that any reduction has been made in this allowance, which has stood at 8s. 3d. a week throughout.