HC Deb 04 April 1950 vol 473 cc980-2
6. Major Tufton Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for War how many married officers or other ranks in the Canal Zone who wish for a married quarter have not been allotted one; and what is the average time that these families have been waiting for a quarter.

Mr. Strachey

I have called for this information from the Command concerned and will write to the hon. and gallant Member.

Major Beamish

Is the Secretary of State not aware that I do not want a letter, but that I want it to appear in the OFFICIAL REPORT so that all hon. Members can see just how bad conditions are on the Canal; and is he further aware that many married men with families have to wait as long as 18 months to two years before getting quarters, by which time their tour of duty is finished?

Mr. Strachey

The hon. and gallant Gentleman should put down another Question if he wants that information given.

Earl Winterton

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his predecessor, the present Minister of Defence, said that he was horrified by housing conditions on the Canal; and will he give this matter his very particular attention and afford the information to the House at the very earliest opportunity?

Mr. Strachey

Certainly, but the difficulty there is well known, of course. It has been a question of the temporary character of the accommodation, but I think that that difficulty can be gradually got over.

Mr. Oliver Stanley

Why has my hon. and gallant Friend got to put down another Question? Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman give the answer to this Question by circulating the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Mr. Strachey

That could be done, but I thought the hon. and gallant Gentleman would prefer to put down another Question and have the answer given on the Floor of the House. It is just as he likes.

7. Major Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for War what financial assistance is given to married officers who are unable to obtain quarters in the Canal Zone; what relation this financial assistance bears to the average cost of a small flat in Ismailia; and whether any further financial assistance will now be given.

Mr. Strachey

These officers are granted unaccommodated rates of local overseas allowance, which vary from 27s. to 33s. a day, according to rank, and are designed to compensate officers for the extra cost of living in Egypt. The element for rent is based on the extra cost of accommodation in Egypt over the cost of accommodation in the United Kingdom, and was based on the average of the rents paid by officers in Ismailia, Suez and Port Said. My Department has received no representations that this allowance is inadequate.

Major Beamish

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into this question again? Is he not aware that the average rents to which he has referred are below the average which has to be paid; and that even a small bad flat at Ismailia costs £50 and £60 a month, which is far beyond the means of the average young field officer with a wife and family?

Mr. Strachey

The allowances were revised in August, 1947, but I will certainly look at them again.

Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite

Are the official married quarters concentrated at Fayid, or are they available in other parts of the Canal Zone as well?

Mr. Strachey

I shall have to have notice of that question.