§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence on what the Armed Forces Pay Review Body based the assertion in its Sixth Report, pages 7–8 that the increases in charges for unmarried second lieutenants and for more senior officers exceed the after-tax increases in pay and that the same applies to certain categories of married Service men; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MulleyAs I told the House on 16th June, the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body's calculations reflect only the after-tax values of the new supplement to pay recommended by it—taking account of the then recently announced tax changes for 1977–78—and not the effect of those tax reliefs on the salary as a whole. A comparison of the increases with the increases in charges results in the position indicated by the review body in its sixth report. If, however, the same comparison were made taking account of the effect of the tax reliefs on salary as a whole—including the new supplement—the position would be different—again, as I explained to the House on 16th June.
§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the percentage increase in the rent element of married quarter accommodation charges in each year since 1st April 1974; and what was the average of local 51W authority rents for houses of similar standard, age and location on which the rent element of forces accommodation has been based.
§ Mr. MulleyThe information requested is not readily available. I shall publish a full reply in theOfficial Reportas soon as possible.