§ 7. Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the off-duty travel facilities available to personnel of Her Majesty's Forces.
§ Mr. SpeedThe entitlements of Service men stationed in the United Kingdom are currently under review. At present they have a basic allowance of four free leave travel warrants during each year for return journeys from their duty station to any destination in the United Kingdom. In addition, married Service men separated from their wives are entitled, subject to certain conditions, to up to eight free separation warrants annually.
§ Mr. ViggersDoes my hon. Friend recognise that most civilian firms which require their employees to work away from home offer better travel facilities than our Armed Forces do at present? Does he realise that, now that the present 244 Government have put right the pay, which was left so bad under the previous Government, the provision of travel facilities has become a top priority? Will he look at it on that basis?
§ Mr. SpeedI certainly want to see improvements in this respect. There is a particular problem for the Navy, and there is a problem generally. It is my desire to improve the off-duty travel facilities if we possibly can. We are looking into the matter.