asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Private James Deas, No. 20166, Machine Gun Corps, was transferred to Class W of the Army Reserve on the 23rd November, 1916, for work in the mines; that he received notice to join the Army for permanent service in April, 1918; that he subsequently received a notice to report at Grantham for permanent service, which he did; that while on service at Grantham allowances were paid in respect of his child Mary; that his claim in respect of this child and also his child John has now been disallowed, on the ground that they were born 280 days after the date of his transfer to Class W of the Army Reserve; and if he will explain why the date of his transfer to the Army Reserve, in consequence of demobilisation, has been ignored in deciding the question of his eligibility for allowance in respect of his two children mentioned?

The facts are substantially as stated. As, however, the man rendered no effective Army service after November, 1916, he is not eligible for allowance for children born more than nine months after that date.

Is it not the case that, this man was recalled to the Colours for permanent service on the second occasion, and the matter of his effective service should not interfere with his eligibility for allowance?

My information is that he did not perform any effective service. If the hon. Member is in possession of any information to the contrary, I shall be happy to consider it.