§ Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing amongst large numbers of workers on account of the rule which forbids the payment of subsistence allowance to workers who voluntarily left their homes to undertake war work before a certain date, but offers such payment to men compulsorily transferred after that date; and whether he will reconsider the rule and offer subsistence allowance to all workers required to live away from their homes?
§ Mr. BevinSubject to certain conditions, lodging allowances are paid to workers transferred away from home by or with the approval of my Department, on or after 1st June, 1940, whether voluntarily or under compulsion. When this scheme of allowances was introduced it was found impracticable for administra- 833W tive and other reasons, to extend it to persons who had transferred before the scheme came into operation. Those reasons still apply and I regret I am unable to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.