asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider in the case of applicants for special or disability allowances for their service in 1916 and 1917-21 that their means be assessed on the same lines as for an old age pension and thus get rid of the free maintenance clause.

The means test for special allowances is kept under constant review. I regret, however, that I cannot undertake to bring it completely into line with that for old age pensions, the considerations involved being different.