§ Mr. T. C. TAYLORasked (1) whether, if a man is mobilised and makes an allowance in favour of a dependant upon mobilisation, the Government allowance is paid if dependency is proved from the date of the enlistment; and (2) whether in the case of a soldier who has made an allotment and claimed an allowance in favour of a dependant, and it is stated that the forms signed have been lost, the Government allowance, if dependency is 1388W admitted, is paid from the date of the original claim or from the date of any subsequent application?
§ Mr. FORSTERI would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to my Noble Friend the Member for Nottingham South on the 20th instant.
Mr. BARLOWasked the Under-Secretary of State for War, with regard to the case of Thomas Lavis Cook, No. 2625, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, now a prisoner in Germany, whether he is aware that this man, whose allotment and Government allowance were originally payable to his father, has, since his father's death in June, 1916, transferred the allotment to his aunt, Mrs. Tilly, of 58, North George Street, Salford; whether the aunt has made frequent applications for the payment to her of the allotment according to the prisoner's wishes; whether her claims have been entirely ignored and she has received nothing; and whether he can have the case at once looked into?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am inquiring into this case, and will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.
Mr. BARLOWasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whe[...]er he is aware that in a number of cases the allowance for dependants other than wives is very inadequate; and whether he can consider having that allowance increased?
§ Mr. FORSTERSpeaking generally, the allowance of a dependant corresponds with the amount Which the soldier actually contributed to the support of the dependant before his enlistment. To meet the case of the dependants of men who enlisted in the earlier stages of the War, local war pensions committees are empowered to give supplementary allowances, according to the date of enlistment and other considerations. For further information on this point I must refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Pensions.
§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Pensions Minister if he is aware that Mrs. Grace Horrigan, 17, Bishop Street, Dublin, mother of Vincent Horrigan, late No. 24553, 4th Hussars, has been awarded a pension of 3s. 6d. per week; if he is aware that this woman's son was employed by the Congested Districts Board as messenger, wages 20s. 6d. per week, and until he was killed the Board paid his mother 13s. 6d. 1389W per week; and if he will have an inquiry made into this case with a view to increasing the pension awarded?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENThe case is under consideration with a view to an increased award under the recent concessions to parents.
§ Mr. WILESasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if it is the declared and authorised policy of the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Committee to withdraw or reduce the amount originally granted in cases where patriotic employers afterwards grant allowances to dependants of employés serving; and whether, as this is likely to discourage generosity, and encourage employers to discontinue or refuse such allowances as unnecessarily burdening themselves without benefiting the employé, the policy of the Committee will be reconsidered?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERI have been asked to reply to this question. It is not the policy of the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Committee to withdraw or reduce grants merely because an allowance has been made by an employer. The Committee are, however, only authorised to make grants in cases of serious hardship, and in determining whether such hardship exists all sources of income must clearly be taken into consideration.