§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that the wives of soldiers who are under treatment in mental hospitals only receive the widow's allowance instead of the allowances for a soldier's wife; whether they are, in fact, in a worse economic position than widows, in that they are precluded from re-marrying; and whether he will consider the advisability of more generous treatment for the wives and dependants of these men?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI am glad to inform the hon. and gallant Member that it has been found possible to remove the distinction which has hitherto existed between the provision made for the wives of men under treatment in asylums for mental disease due to service and that made for the wives of men under treatment in hospitals for other disabilities. At present the wife whose hsuband is in an asylum receives an allowance equivalent to widow's pension, with an extra 7s. 6d. a week. She will in future receive the full allowances such as are provided for the wives of men in hospitals, namely, a flat-rate allowance of 20s. a week, together with the balance of the man's treatment allowance (21s. a week, or more according to rank), after624W deduction of the small amount required by the man for pocket-money. In addition, she will, as formerly, receive any children's allowances payable. In view of the higher rates of widows' pension now payable, the increase resulting from this change will, in many cases, not be great, but the discrimination made against the wives of men in asylums has always been keenly felt, and I am glad that it has now been found possible to remove it.