§ 3. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Air the principle on which he acts in determining the incidence and amount of each local overseas allowance to British air officers serving abroad; what principle guides him in making discriminations between single officers, married accompanied officers and married unaccompanied officers; and how the assessments are arrived at in each of the overseas commands.
§ Mr. BirchThe aim is to enable officers to meet the extra cost of maintaining a suitable standard of living, both for themselves and their families, when they are serving in certain areas overseas. The rates are fixed accordingly.
§ Mr. HughesIs it not obvious that the present system of assessment is invidious, and operates harshly in certain cases? Will the Minister look into the matter with a view to ameliorating the unfairness from which certain officers abroad are suffering?
§ Mr. BirchThis is a very complex business. If the hon. and learned Gentleman will draw my attention to any case in which he thinks there is unfairness, or will see me about it, I shall be happy to go into it.
§ Mr. KershawIs my right hon. Friend aware that in Holland the local overseas allowance is less than in Germany? Is he also aware that N.A.A.F.I. in Holland does not carry anything like the stocks carried by N.A.A.F.I. in Germany, so that officers and other ranks in Holland are forced to do a lot of their shopping in the N.A.A.F.I. in Germany, where the prices are higher, because they are based on the higher local overseas allowance in Germany?
§ Mr. BirchI take it that all these matters have been taken into account in fixing the local overseas allowance, but I will certainly look into the point.
§ 8. Mr. Fernyhoughasked the Secretary of State for Air what would be the cost of doubling the overseas allowance for corporals and those below stationed in Germany when accompanied by their families.
§ Mr. FernyhoughSince the amount involved is so small and the number of grievances which, if doubled, it would remedy is comparatively large, can the right hon. Gentleman say why generals, brigadiers, colonels, lieutenant-colonels, majors, captains, warrant officers and those of ranks down to sergeants should get an additional allowance when accompanied by their families, while corporals and privates are denied that advantage?
§ Mr. FernyhoughThey may have higher ranks, but does not the Secretary of State realise that a principle is involved? We are not asking that they should have the same overseas allowance, but that there should not be this discrimination.
§ Mr. BirchThe hon. Member has already given notice that he will raise this matter on the Adjournment and I do not want to do anything to spoil his speech.
§ Mr. FernyhoughOn a point of order. I have not given notice that I shall raise, on the Adjournment, this matter in relation to how it affects the Air Force.