§ 47. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Defence if National Service men engaged at Christmas Island in the year ending July, 1957, will receive a local overseas allowance in view of the fact that those serving there subsequently now receive it.
§ The Minister of Defence (Mr. Duncan Sandys)No, Sir. Local overseas allowance is payable only in places where the cost of living is higher than at home. This is not the case in Christmas Island, where life is simple and inexpensive. The reason why overseas allowance has now been introduced is to help our troops to avail themselves of the new leave scheme to Honolulu.
§ Mr. AllaunWere not such men, including Salford National Service men, deprived of the leave now granted to Honolulu, because of the shocking conditions on Christmas Island, and also of their allowance as well? Did not they 371 suffer the worst of both worlds, and will the Minister reconsider this considerable anomaly?
§ Mr. SandysThe men to whom the hon. Member refers are probably home again and enjoying conditions at home. The purpose of this allowance is to help men avail themselves of a holiday in Honolulu, which I understand is agreeable but expensive.
§ Mr. ShinwellHow far will the overseas allowance provided for these men go in Honolulu?
§ Mr. SandysI have never been to Honolulu, but I have seen pictures of hula-hula girls.
§ 48. Mr. Fernyhoughasked the Minister of Defence what would be the approximate cost of granting to single Service men stationed in Germany the overseas allowance now paid to married personnel who are unaccompanied.
§ Mr. SandysAbout £2 million per annum.
§ Mr. FernyhoughThe right hon. Gentleman has just said that the overseas allowance is paid wherever the cost of living is higher than at home. It is obvious that it must be higher in Germany because it has been admitted that we pay it to married personnel. Why does the right hon. Gentleman therefore withhold it from single personnel if, on his own admission, the cost of living is already higher in Germany than at home? Would not he agree that if he spent this £2 million in this way, that small amount would remedy a large number of grievances?
§ Mr. SandysThere is a procedure for estimating costs and deciding where overseas allowance should be paid. I cannot go into it in reply to a supplementary question. A full statement was made late last year on this subject. I understand the idea behind the question of the hon. Member, but I can think of quite a number of claims which I should regard as more urgent on which to spend £2 million.