§ 139. Mr. Kendallasked the Minister of Labour if he will consider amending the ruling whereby Servicemen are permitted a period of only six months to draw the grant of £150 to assist them to set up in business again, in view of the fact that returning Servicemen find it difficult to obtain business premises when their previous shops have been destroyed during air raids; and if he will change the period of six months to two years.
173W
§ Mr. Isaacs:Applications under the Resettlement Grants Scheme must normally be made within six months of release or discharge, because it is considered to be in the best interests of the persons concerned that they should reestablish themselves as soon as possible. Provided that application is so made, there is no rule which requires a grant to be paid within any particular period. If an applicant is able to show reasonable cause for not applying within the time stated, his application would be considered. As exceptional cases of the kind referred to by the hon. Member are, therefore, already provided for, I do not see any grounds for altering the present rule.