§ 29. Mr. Johnasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's arrangements for the provision of housing for ex-Service men after the completion of their service.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourWe already do a good deal to help Service men leaving the Services and facing the problem of finding housing, for example by operating various schemes designed to assist them to buy their own houses. We are actively considering what else might be done under the constraints of the defence budget.
§ Mr. JohnDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that a considerable amount of anxiety is being caused to ex-Service men who are completing their service? Does he not agree that everything that can be done should be done to see that these men who have served in the armed forces are assured of having all their housing needs considered at the end of their service?
§ Mr. GilmourI entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman that there is a good deal of anxiety about this important matter. There are other equally important welfare matters with which we have to deal. It is a matter of weighing one priority against another. We are looking into the matter very carefully indeed.