§ 2. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the suspension of the Singapore local overseas allowance payable to officers and airmen serving in the Far East Flying Boat Wing and now engaged operationally jai the Korean war.
§ Mr. A. HendersonLocal overseas allowances are payable in certain areas abroad to enable Service men to meet the necessary extra cost, as compared with the United Kingdom, of maintaining a reasonable standard of living. The allowances for a particular area are assessed on the basis of prices and conditions in that area and cease to be payable, or are reduced, when an officer or airman leaves the area. Single men of the Flying Boat Wing ceased to be entitled to the Singapore rates of local 314 overseas allowance on leaving the Singapore area, while married men who left their families behind in Singapore became entitled to a reduced married rate of allowance. For example, a corporal whose wife and family are not living in quarters in Singapore would suffer a reduction from 26s. 3d. to 22s. 6d. per day. The Flying Boat Wing operates from Japan and the cost of living there does not at present justify single rates of local overseas allowance.
§ Mr. DribergIs my right hon. and learned Friend satisfied that the reduction in the case of married men does not cause considerable hardship to their families, who still have to live in Singapore?
§ Mr. HendersonNo, I do not think so, because the husband or father is no longer living with his family and that must make a difference to the cost of living.