§ Mr. Silkinasked the Minister of Pensions under what powers the Civil Liabilities Fund for the benefit of men serving in His Majesty's Forces has been created; how it is administered; and whether any regulations have been made, and by whom, governing its procedure?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI assume the hon. Member refers to the grants which in cases of special hardship I am now empowered to make on the advice of the War Service Grants Advisory Committee. These grants are not made out of any special fund but are made by me in place of the Service Departments under the authority of the Government, as was intimated by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his speech in this House of the 29th November. The general principles governing these grants are set out in Command Paper 6043, as amended by Command Paper 6138. At the same time I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 6th December to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith), of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
§ Mr. Silkinasked the Minister of Labour whether, and under what regulation, the relief in respect of certain liabilities afforded under S.R.O. No. 719 of 1939, to men in the forces under the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Act, has been made to apply to men called to the forces under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939?
§ Mr. E. BrownNo provision has been made under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939, corresponding to the Order mentioned, and the latter does not apply in relation to service since general mobilisation. All men serving in the Forces are, however, entitled to somewhat similar protection under emergency legislation, such as the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act, 1939. In addition, special financial assistance to meet liabilities of the kind in question may be given on the recommendation of the War Service Grants Advisory Committee in cases of hardship arising through service in the Forces.