§ Mr. T. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the marriage allowance to officers prior to the 1st May was 17s. per week less 7s. per week for quarters in the barracks, and since 1st May is 27s. per week less 17s. for barrack quarters; and why the increased allowance has been absorbed by increased rent for quarters?
§ Sir V. Warrender:I assume that the hon. Member is referring to soldiers and not to officers. A soldier who was on the marriage allowance roll and not provided with married quarters has received an increase varying from seven shillings to ten shillings a week in the allowance in respect of his wife. As my right hon. Friend stated in his speech on Army Estimates on 10th March last, if quarters are available and allotted to a married soldier, he does not receive the allowance in respect of his wife.
§ Mr. T. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a married officer with a wife and three children living out of barracks, whose allowance for lodging, fuel, and light was stopped from 1st May, is now approximately 4s. per week worse off than he was before he received the increase on 1596W 1st May; and, in these circumstances, will he consider reinstating the lodging allowance?
§ Sir V. Warrender:I assume the hon. Member is referring to soldiers and not to officers. The new scheme in effect places all married soldiers of 26 years and over on one married establishment instead of dividing them into a married quarters roll and a marriage allowance roll. In certain exceptional cases transfer from the marriage allowance roll to the married quarters roll, though conferring entitlement to advantages in other ways, was liable to involve a temporary diminution of cash allowances, and the same situation may have arisen on the introduction of the new married establishment. If the hon. Member will send me particulars of the cases he has in mind, I will consider whether they call for special treatment.