A Family Allowance Hitch
Sir John Anderson fotight a lonely battle in the House of Commons last week on the principle of avoiding duplication in the payment of family allowances, with the sense of the House overwhelmingly against him. The discussion arose out of two clauses in the Family Allowances Bill. On the face of it, there was a good deal to be said for the Chancellor's contention that the family of a serviceman which is already receiving pay in respect of children should not have allowances paid on the top of that in respect of the same children. But that is not really a fair way of stating the position. Allowances for a soldier's children are a part of his pay. It is an allowance which has to be made to him because, without it, he is paid on a much lower scale than a civilian worker ; a family could not be maintained in decency otherwise The soldier's pay with allowances added is simply the equivalent of a civilian worker's wages, and when he enters into a contract with the Government it is on the understanding that such provision is made. If he is not to have the benefit of allowances under the Bill, then he is in effect deprived of something which is granted to all the rest of the community. The House almost with one accord expressed its indignation at this interpretation of the principle of "no' duplica- tion." Sir John Anderson promised to redraft the offending clauses so as to remove the apprehensions expressed, though he insisted on the maintenance of his principle. A good deal of ingenuity will be required to fulfil both parts of this undertaking.
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