HC Deb 26 April 1977 vol 930 cc1020-1
14. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many private soldiers and leading aircraftmen are on rent rebate.

Dr. Gilbert

Some 4,036 private soldiers and 59 leading aircraftmen.

Mr. McNair-Wilson

Does the Minister of State agree that that is an appallingly high figure? Is he aware that 17 per cent. of all other ranks in Berkshire's county regiment are on rent rebate? What is he doing to persuade the Armed Forces Review Body to expedite its survey of the problem?

Dr. Gilbert

Is it not for me to intervene in the deliberations of a body which has been appointed by and which reports directly to the Prime Minister. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the qualification for rebate, at any income level, is dependent on the size of family. A 1975 report said that it would be out of the question to adjust all rates of pay so as to disqualify everyone from the application of the rebate scheme.

Mr. Kenneth Lewis

Will the Minister make representations to the Review Body so that next time there is a pay rise for the forces we can increase allowances and go back to the old system of increasing allowances rather than pay? Would there not be an advantage in that for the men and for recruitment generally?

Dr. Gilbert

I take note of that point, and no doubt the Review Body is fully seized of these matters. It looks carefully into the pay and conditions of the forces.

Mr. Cronin

Will the Minister take steps to give relief to soldiers in Northern Ireland who are paying particularly large charges for their accommodation and who are living under conditions that are hazardous and economically unfavourable compared with those of soldiers in other parts of the world?

Dr. Gilbert

There is another Question on the Order Paper on this subject, but the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army indicated during the Army debate a few days ago that he would call for a special report on this matter.

Mr. Churchill

Does the Minister accept that the Ministry of Defence is in a special situation as both the gaffer and the landlord and that it must exercise the latter responsibility with great care? Is it not a scandal that more than 4,000 young soldiers, whom we are asking to risk their lives in the defence of this country and in fighting the war against terrorism in Northern Ireland, should be on the bread line?

Dr. Gilbert

I think that the hon. Gentleman should use more temperate language. Those are not the circum stances. I repeat that at any given income level qualification for rent rebate is dependent on the size of the family. There fore, the younger a soldier is, the less likely it is that he will have a rent rebate.