§ 2.42 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEINMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a study has ever been made of the possibility of having the Armed Forces composed solely of unmarried personnel, or of married officers and men whose wives and families would be officially unrecognised; whether they do not consider that such a policy would do away with married quarters, schools, transport of families and many other commitments; and whether, as a compensation, Service personnel would not be given very high rates of pay; and further, what would be the savings in terms of both money and civilian staff to Her Majesty's Government of such a policy, and what effect it would be likely to have on recruiting.]
§ THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE FOR THE ROYAL AIR FORCE (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, a detailed study has not been made in the terms of the noble Viscount's Question, although some consideration has of course been given to the problem. Seventy-nine per cent. of officers, and over 52 per cent. of soldiers, sailors and airmen are married. The present pay of the Armed Forces is approximately £333 million per annum. In addition, there are certain other allowances, the largest of which is marriage allowance, on which the annual expenditure is £96 million. After including the cost of other items—married quarters, schools, transport and so on—the total net bill for marriage is in the region of £150 million per annum, some 7 per cent. of the Defence budget, although only a more detailed study could substantiate this figure. Even if the whole of this £150 million were distributed pro rata as an addition to pay, it would not, in my judgment, provide a sufficient sum either to enable those who do wish to be married to make adequate provision or to induce them to forgo entering that happy state.
I will not comment on the social aspects of such a policy; but I have no 1369 doubt whatever that its implementation would have an effect on recruiting which would be disastrous, and its effect on the retention of officers and men in the Services would be catastrophic.
§ VISCOUNT MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEINMy Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for the obvious care that has been taken in finding out this information. Clearly, it needs further study.