§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the maximum allowance under the Government scheme to the dependants in this country of our merchant captains, officers, and seamen who, for nearly two years, have been interned in enemy countries, still remains at £1 per week; if so, will he now consider 2120W the justice of substantially increasing these allowances, seeing that the cost of living has increased by at least 35 per cent., and that the House of Lords has decided that these interned seafarers are not legally entitled to their pay whilst interned, and that the Government are providing relief up to £104 per annum appart from pay and separation allowance in justifiable cases where married men have joined the Colours?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe maximum allowance payable to the dependants of masters, officers or seamen of British ships interned in Germany under the dependants' scheme is £1 per week. The scheme is a purely voluntary one, promoted in connection with the Government Insurance Scheme, and I regret that it is not possible to increase the amount of the allowance.