HC Deb 07 May 1969 vol 783 cc422-3
2. Mr. Roebuck

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent it is his policy to segregate the families of seamen, privates and airmen from those of noncommissioned officers when allocating married quarters.

The Minister of Defence for Administration (Mr. G. W. Reynolds)

There is no policy of segregation but when an Army unit is allocated multiple blocks of hirings, junior and senior other ranks are customarily housed separately.

Mr. Roebuck

While recognising that different standards of accommodation may properly represent different rewards for different responsibilities, will my right hon. Friend do everything possible to discourage artificial social barriers between the families of N.C.O.s and junior ranks? Will he consider what was said by Kipling: the Colonel's Lady an' Judy O'Grady Are sisters under their skins.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Questions must be short.

Mr. Reynolds

They may well be sisters under the skin, but the whole social life develops round different buildings in the compound.