§ LORD HARVEY OF PRESTBURYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make a statement on the conditions of service of the Forces in Northern Ireland, including pay, pensions and amenities.
§ THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (LORD CARRINGTON)Since the introduction of the military salary the pay of all Servicemen has included a special addition, known as the "X-factor", to compensate for the danger and arduous conditions of Service life such as those encountered in Northern Ireland. For this reason, the special addition to pay for Servicemen and women stationed in Northern Ireland introduced on August 1,1969, was discontinued with the introduction of the military salary.
In addition, the charges normally paid for food and accommodation by single men are waived in field conditions; the wives of married men may qualify for separation allowance and the normal regulations have been relaxed so that this qualification is not broken by short spells of leave from Northern Ireland.
Local overseas allowance, however, is not payable for service in Northern 1342WA Ireland other than to those married Servicemen whose families remain in an overseas station. This allowance, which is assessed separately for each overseas theatre, is designed specifically to compensate for the extra cost of maintaining living standards in overseas theatres by comparison with the United Kingdom.
Pensions for those disabled or for the widows and dependants of those who are killed are awarded where death or injury is regarded as attributable to military service whether in conditions of peace or war and without regard to the existence or otherwise of a state of active service.
Everything possible is being done to improve accommodation for the Forces in Northern Ireland. An extra £500,000 has been made available to improve living conditions in temporary billets in which troops have to be accommodated for operational reasons: and for other amenities. In addition special air fares and other travel concessions, cheap telephone calls, free newspapers, travelling libraries, T.V. sets and film projectors and other welfare facilities are being provided.
House adjourned, for the Christmas Recess, at seven minutes before six o'clock.