THE REGULATIONS

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 8, 10 July 1916, Page 3

THE REGULATIONS

The following is the text, of the re^ gulations:-" •;

WHERE RELIEF MAY BE GIVEN.

.1. Assistance may be granted to men serving with .His Majesty's Forces whether married or unmarried, who ' (a). Joined ths Forces on or. after 4th August; 1914, or are members of the Territorial Force, and; ,

(b) At tha date of their application for assistance did not hold His Majesty's Commission, and (c) Were onlinirily resident in the United Kingdom before joining the Forces, and

(d) Are unable, by reason of,their undertaking military service, /to meet their financial obligations as hereafter described, and are thereby exposed to serious hardship.

2. The obligations in respect of which assistance may be granted are. those arising in. the United Kingdom in respect of— (a) Rent.

- (b) Interest and instalments payable in respect of loans, including mortgages, (c) Instalments payable under agreements for,, the 'purchase of .business premises, .a -dwelhnghouss,: furniture, and the like. . , ••'..'

(d) Rates and taxes.' (c) Insurance premiums. jf); School fees. . . 3. Assistance will not be granted for the discharge of ordinary debts. 4. Assistance will not be granted in any case at a rate exceeding £104 per annum. •

i Then follow directions for the making of applications and the payment .and duration of grants. Clause 15 stipulates: A grant shall not be made in respect of any period after the grantee has ceased to; belong to H.M. Forces, provided that in the event of the grantee's death the grant may be continued for a period not exceeding twenty-six weeks after the date on which he is notified to his widow or other dependents as dead or missing. QUESTIONS FOR ANSWER. The schedule consists of a copy of the "Form, of Application for Special Assistance," ; which' is rather formidable in appearance, while the . questions it contains are decidedly searching. Three separate tables have to be filled up by the applicant, who is warned that " the statements made in this application will be subject to strict investigaMon Any person who makes a false statement for the, purpose of obtaining assistance will be liable to prosecution, and any assistance granted may be forfeited."

The first table deals with the personal description of the applicant, requiring his .-..'. -."'..■

Name, and address; . „ Occupation before enlistment; , Name and address of last employer, if any;

If already,.serving in the Army or Navy, the date on which he joined, and other particulars;

If not yet serving, the date on which he is to be called up and other particulars; ■ • . , ■ •

His state as to marriage; and Particulars of his family and other persons dependent on him. ■'.

INCOME.

The second table is concerned with the applicant's income. The following are to be stated, both before joining H.M. Forces and after joining (excluding naval or military pay and allowances) :— Salary, or wages; Profits on business; '

Property;

Other sources^— namely, bank and other interest, annuities, dividends, other items. ■ ■ .

The wife's income, if any, and that of other members of the family or dependents from; ' or, wages and from other sources aro to be stated; together with the amount his family does or will receive a week in respect of allotment of pay, separation allowance, and grants from other sources. . '

The applicant is next asked to state how much he does or will receive a week in respect of naval or military pay.

Finally, as regards his income, the applicant is asked— If tka income of yourself and wile

before joining H.M. Forces exceeded £2 10s a week, or £130 a year, state—

(1) What was the. total income you declared for purposes of income-tax; in your last return? (2) On what date did you make your last return?

(3) From what .address did you make the return?

EXPENDITURE,

The third table requires the applicant to state fully the details of his expenditure. He has to give the amount of the following before and after joining H.M. Forces:—r ■

Rent of house, flat, rooms, etc., and of business premises; Interest and instalments payable in respect of loans, including mortgages (specifying each loan); . ' Instalments payable for the purchase of house, business premises, furniture, and other items. Taxes (excluding tax nnder Schedule A, recoverable from landlord). . Rates (including , water rates) so far as not payable by landlord on house, flat, etc., and on business premises. As regards insurance premiums, the applicant is to state tho number of the policy and the name of . the insurance company or friendly society in which he has a life or endowment insurance or other insurances, together irith the amount. ■ • The school fees of children are to be set down'and "all other expenditure, including food and clothing." A note informs the applicant that he be required to produce receipts or other documents in support of the entries in this form." s

Following upon this is the y form : — "I apply- for assistance. to enable me to meet the following current financial obligations," space being left for the description of sis obligations. A declaration of the truth 'of the statements made is required of the applicant, - who is also to give the name and address of the person to whom it is desired that any allowance granted should be made, and to specify the post office at which it is desired that payments should be made. Where the applicant is on foreign service and unable to sign, the application form may be signed by his wife or other representative. Documentary authorisation may in- such cases be required. ■ Speaking: in the House -of Commons on. 17th May, Mr. Hayes Fisher, Secretary of. the Local Government Board, announced that the amount of £M 4 was irrespective of separation allowances and pay. The Commissioners would Be paid. The arrangement would be applied to members of the Territorial Force as well as to the Regulars. The grants would not-be made by the Commissioners, but by the Central Committee,- to whom the Commissioners after investigation of applications would report.