§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will issue a White Paper giving the scales of payment of allowances to parents or widows whose sons have joined the forces; whether he can state the nature of the tribunals which award allowances; and whether it is intended to so improve these as to bring them into closer contact with those whose incomes have been reduced by their sons service in the forces?
Sir V. WarrendersThe scales are set out in a Royal Warrant and Schedule published as Army Order 170 of 1939. I will arrange for a White Paper to be circulated giving the details.
Awards are made by regimental paymasters in cases which fulfil the conditions prescribed by the regulations. Where application is made for special assistance outside the provisions of the regulations, the cases are considered and decided in the light of recommendations made, after local investigation into the circumstances, to the Service Department concerned by the Military Service (Special Allowances) Advisory Committee, referred to in the White Paper circulated in June last in connection with allowances for men called up under the Military Training Act and the Reserve and Auxxiliary Forces Act.
As regards the last part of the question, in cases of hardship which are not met by the normal scale of allowances, the soldier has access to this committee.