§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that it is the practice of the three services to stop or reduce to a minimum the allotments payable to a man's dependants within a week of his death; that this course was taken after the loss of M 1; and whether the present arrangements can be put on a more humane footing?
§ Mr. McNEILLI think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension as to the nature and object of the practice to which he refers. A payment equivalent to the compulsory allotment with its accompanying marriage allowance is issuable at public expense for four weeks from the date of notification of death to the man's family, pension when admissible beginning from the termination of four weeks. The practice is expressly designed to mitigate the hardship to the man's family which I gather the hon. Member has in mind. The allotment is paid by the State and not charged against the man's account. Voluntary allotments naturally cease from date of death.