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War Service Grants

Volume 359: debated on Tuesday 2 April 1940

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38.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the War Service Grants Advisory Committee take into account voluntary contributions from an employer to an employé when assessing the amount of a grant to the latter or his dependant?

As the basis of all grants recommended by the War Service Grants Advisory Committee is serious hardship due to the man's war service, it is clear that all continuing items of income must be taken into account.

Does not my hon. Friend think that as, even with special grants, the household income is reduced very much below its pre-war income, it is unfair to take into account any additional grant which a man's employer may make?

I do not agree with that. If my hon. Friend will see me after Question Time, I will explain the whole position to him, and then I think he will not agree with it either.

Does not the Minister think that the taking into account of a voluntary contribution made by generous employers to their employés serving in the Army is a deterrent to that generosity, and is likely to result in those payments from employers being stopped?

If that is a deterrent, I should not think it is generous of them.