HC Deb 24 October 1939 vol 352 cc1231-4W
Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Bolton district of the British Legion is calling the attention of Members of Parliament for that area to the inadequacy of family allowances, in certain cases, of men who have joined His Majesty's Forces, which, in the case of a family of more than three children, is lower than the rate allowed by public assistance committees; and will he consider whether anything can be done in this connection?

Mr. Cassells

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is aware of the hardship occasioned by the poverty of the present payments made to wives and children of men serving in His Majesty's Forces, which are less than unemployment assistance rates and those being paid for evacuees; and if he is prepared to take steps to relieve the hardship to these women and children by increasing materially these payments?

Sir J. Simon

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the right hon. Member for Limehouse (Mr. Attlee) on 18th October.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

asked the Secretary of State for War whether family allowances are payable irrespective of the age of the soldier; and whether he is aware that in the case of a soldier aged 19, granted permission by his commanding officer to get married and given special leave for the purpose, the wife's allowance has been refused until the man attains the age of 20, in March, 1940?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Family allowances are payable irrespective of the age of the soldier. There would be no authority for such a refusal as is referred to. If the hon. Member will let me have the name, unit and Army number of the soldier to whom he refers, I will have inquiries made.

Mr. R. J. Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the distress prevailing amongst serving soldiers' wives and dependants due to the time between entry into the services and their payments coming through; and, further, to relieve this distress, will he state to whom wives and dependants should make application for payment until the service payments are made?

Mr. Hannah

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many workers in the Black Country, especially those who have been encouraged to buy their homes on an instalment basis, are suffering great hardship from the delay in payment of military allowances which are too small to maintain wives and children in comfort; and will he take steps to remedy this?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Arrangements have been made to pay family allowances on a prima facie claim of entitlement, and it is hoped, in the case of dependants' allowance, to introduce a method substantially reducing the time of determination.

Miss Ward

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all officers have received their full family allowances since embodiment; and, if not, what percentage of claims are outstanding?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

A special census is being carried out at home and in France in order to identify any officer who is not in receipt of allowances due to him, and even though the documents required to establish entitlement to family allowance may be incomplete, in any case where there is an a priori claim by an officer in France, a provisional payment will be made.

Miss Ward

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in order to avoid delay in the payment of separation and dependant's allowances to men joining the forces in the future, he will arrange for commanding officers to sanction payment by the paymasters for a temporary period, pending the production of evidence to ensure regular payments?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

It has been arranged that family allowance will be issued so soon as a claim showing prima facie evidence of entitlement is received by the paymaster from the unit. Dependants' allowance, which is conditional upon certain information not available to the officer commanding, cannot be dealt with in this way, but it is hoped to introduce a method which will substantially reduce the time of determination.

Mr. Collindridge

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the regimental paymaster of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps at Portsmouth, demanded of the wife of Private J. H. Williams, when she was applying for family allowances, that she should produce full birth certificates for her six children; that the cost of these certificates was 21s. 6d., which Mrs. Williams was unable to afford; and will he, in future, dispense with this costly method in the case of dependants of serving men, of age and birth certificates when they are seeking family allowances?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Arrangements have been made whereby, if marriage and birth certificates are not in possession of an applicant for family allowance, alternative evidence may be accepted, or the particulars otherwise verified, without expense to the soldier. The case mentioned, of which I am unaware, appears to be one of hardship, and, if the hon. Member will send me full particulars, including the soldier's Army number, I will inquire into it.