§ Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office whether, when a serving soldier has deserted his wife and an Order is made upon him by a court of summary jurisdiction to pay her 23s. a week and a stoppage of 10s. 6d. a week is made from his pay in pursuance of Section 145 of the Army Act in part discharge of his obligation to pay 23s. a week, it is possible, under paragraph 45 of Army Order 357 of 1920 or otherwise, to make a compulsory allotment to be deducted from the soldier's pay in further dis- 1930W charge in whole or in part of such obligation; and, if not, whether he will cause a suitable Amendment to be made in Army Order 357 of 1920 so as to provide for the due enforcement of the wife's rights?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second part, it is not possible to amend the Order so as to provide for stoppages in excess of the maximum amounts authorised by Section 145 of the Army Act.