§ Major BURGOYNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that until 25th March of this year the Transportation Branch of the Royal Engineers working at 19, Tavistock Square had been drawing, in the case of married men, a daily lodging allowance of 9d. and a ration allowance of 1s. 9d., making a total of 17s. 6d. per week, and that since that date the amount has been reduced to 1s. per day or 7s. per week; whether he is aware that the men, owing to housing facilities not being available near the office, have been instructed to live at home; and whether, in view of the impossibility of their paying their fares backwards and forwards to and from their work and providing themselves also with the necessary meals on the 7s. allowed, he will look into this matter and see whether the alteration has been made under a misconception?
§ Mr. FORSTERThese men were not instructed to live at home, but to make their own arrangements. They lived at home, of their own choice, but omitted to report the fact, and consequently they and their wives drew the allowances appropriate to men not living at home, instead of the "family allowance" of men living at home. The amounts overdrawn are being adjusted by small weekly deductions in accordance with the regulations for such cases.