§ 53. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Defence, as the decision made by Her Majesty's Government not to honour the undertaking given to officers in 1966 joining the Fleet Air Arm on short-service commissions for 12 years that they would receive a tax-free gratuity of £5,000 was taken by the Civil Service Department without his approval, whether he will make a statement.
§ Dr. GilbertNo such decision was taken. I would refer the hon. Member to what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said on this matter during the debate on the Defence Estimates on 22nd March.—[Vol. 928, c. 1099–1104.]