HC Deb 05 July 1967 vol 749 cc1810-1
26. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is aware that Royal Air Force clothing allowances for male other ranks have been unchanged for many years at £l1 8s. 2d. per annum, whereas the cost of No. 1 home dress uniform is now increased from £8 7s. 2d. to £10 16s. 8d, of No. 2 home dress uniform from £3 16s. 11d. to £4 4s. 8d, of boots, general duty, from £1 16s. 4d. to £2 2s. 11d, of shoes from £11s. 4d. to £1 15s. 0d, of towels, hand, from 4s. 7d. to 6s. 2d, and of drawers, cellular, from 4s. 8d. to 6s. 6d; and why he has allowed these breaches of the Government's prices and incomes policy.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The clothing allowance does not form part of an airman's income. Its object is to ensure that he can obtain his Service clothing without charge to his pay. Both the allowance and the prices charged are reviewed every three years to ensure that the allowance serves this purpose.

Such a review was completed early this year. The principal reason why the allowance was left unchanged, despite the increased charges to which the hon. Member refers, was that experience had shown that airmen were not finding it necessary to purchase two of the most expensive items—No. 1 dress and raincoats—as frequently as had been envisaged when the allowance was last reviewed.

Service clothing is still obtained without a charge to airmen's pay.

Sir G. Nabarro

Pay has nothing to do with it. If a man in the Services has had the cost of all his essential clothing raised by the scale indicated in the Question, which is up to 40 per cent., is it not reasonable that his clothing allowance should be commensurately raised?

Mr. Rees

The Question refers to a breach of the prices and incomes policy, but the hon. Member now states that pay has nothing to do with it. No airman is worse off as a result of this. Over the years the cost of items—[Interruption.] As an ex-airman I understand this, but as an ex-sergeant major the hon. Member may not. The average airman knows the cost of items and how long it takes them to wear out. I assure the hon. Member that the airman is not worse off as a result of this and it is not a breach of the Government's prices and incomes policy.

Sir G. Nabarro

A rotten answer from the Royal Air Force.