§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a large number of British subjects in countries temporarily over-run by the Japanese in the Far East have wives and children in this country who are, owing to the suspension of remittances, without means of livelihood; and whether, in such cases, he will consider, as in the case of British subjects in France, furnishing them with some small monthly allowance to be ultimately recoverable, so as to avoid their being compelled to resort to public charity?
§ Sir K. WoodHis Majesty's Government have great sympathy with the persons to whom my hon. and gallant Friend refers, and urgent consideration of their position has been given by my Department, in consultation with the other Departments concerned. But I think it only right to say now that I cannot hold out any hope that it will be possible to treat this class more favourably than the dependants of British subjects detained in other territories over-run by the enemy or those British subjects who have lost their livelihood in this country owing to the action or threatened action of the enemy, or to some other circumstances directly caused by the war. I should add that His Majesty's Government will direct that the provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Act shall not operate to prevent a banker, who holds authority from a British subject detained in territory occupied by the Japanese, from making payments to his dependants in this country.