§ Lieut.-Commander Tufnellasked the Secretary of State for War whether, to counteract the effect of the delay in paying allowances to the wives of serving soldiers, he will make arrangements to permit in all cases advances to be made by the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association on the understanding that they will be, in due course, refunded?
§ Sir V. WarrenderWhile I welcome any help which this or other similar associations can give to the families of soldiers, I do not think it is either necessary or desirable to make them part of the official machinery for providing soldiers' wives with financial assistance. Steps have been taken which I hope will eliminate delays in the issue of family allowances in future, but, if need does arise, the official channel for obtaining temporary assistance, pending the issue of an allowance, is through the local office of the Ministry of Labour, under the Government scheme for the prevention of distress.