– in the House of Commons at on 20 February 1940.
Mr James Ede
, South Shields
asked the Secretary of State for War whether the military punishment of deprivation of so many days' pay can be abolished and the infliction of a definite fine with a suitable maximum substituted, so that the wife of the soldier concerned shall not be deprived of her allotment as a result of her husband's military delinquency?
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Westmorland
It has now been decided that, where the period of forfeiture of pay does not exceed 28 days, the payment to the wife of the amount of the allotment will be continued and will be debited against the soldier's account.
Mr James Ede
, South Shields
Will the right hon. Gentleman consider extending the period beyond 28 days?
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Westmorland
I will look into it but I think the concession I am now announcing will go far to meet the difficulty.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
