§ 107. Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for War when it is proposed to remove the ban on the payment of marriage allowances to soldiers under 21 years of age.
§ 111. Mr. D. Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider amending the code of pay and allowances so that wives of Servicemen under 21 years of age will be on the same financial basis as wives of Servicemen over 21 years of age.
§ Mr. BellengerI would refer hon. Members to the statement I made at the end of the Debate on the Adjournment last night.
§ 127. Lieut.-Colonel Corbettasked the Secretary of State for War whether the Service grants or war service grants paid to married soldiers under 21 years of age give financial assistance equivalent to that allowed by the marriage allowance to soldiers 21 years of age.
§ Mr. BellengerNot necessarily, Sir. The maximum Service grants provide for the income of the family to be brought up to 42s. a week, subject to qualifying contributions from the soldier, ranging from 14s. a week, from a Private whose pay is 4s. a day, to 28s. a week from a Corporal.
I understand that the Ministry of Pensions assess war service grant by reference to the soldier's earnings and commitments before call-up and the size and income, including his own allotment, of his family. Generally the income of the family, where there are children, if war service grant is payable, will be equivalent to that of a corresponding family of a soldier who is eligible for marriage allowance, but the family's circumstances may be such that this is 247W not the case. Where there are no children the wife of a soldier under 21 may not be entitled to a War Service Grant, but where a grant is payable she usually receives less in war service grant plus allotment than the childless wife of a soldier over 21 would receive in marriage allowance, including allotment.