asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that allowances to officers' wives are paid to the husband, who can, and sometimes does, refuse to make any payment to the wife who is thus left penniless; and whether he will investigate the working of this system with a view to a change in procedure?

Marriage allowance is a grant paid to an officer to assist him in the maintenance of his wife and family; it is in no sense a grant to the wife herself. It is issued only if the officer certifies that he is living with or maintaining his wife. Apart from stoppage of marriage allowance, the Admiralty has no power to compel an officer to support his wife. The number of cases of difficulty is very small and does not call for investigation.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that the War Office is considering an alteration of regulations in view of the suffering caused to the wives of some officers?

I have been assured that the statement made yesterday does not in any way interfere with the existing practice at the Admiralty.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain what justification there can possibly be for a procedure which allows interference with the allowance of a naval rating if he neglects his duty to his wife and child when no such procedure is possible or desirable in the case of an officer? Is it not quite unjustifiable class differentiation and very unjust to the wives and children of officers?

In certain cases ratings or the wives of ratings do not get allowances, and I think that my hon. Friend will find that the percentage of officers' wives who are deprived of their allowances is very much less than that of rating.

Will the Admiralty arrange to come into line with the other Services when the investigations that are going on now are completed?

The Admiralty is always open to consult with, and be guided by, the other Services.