§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will review the unfavourable differential which exists between the mileage rate allowed to a Service man for the use of his own car on a duty journey for which public transport is available and the rate allowed to civil servants in the same circumstances, taking account of the fact that the benefit of the preferential rate of rail travel available to Service men, which he has quoted 953W as the justification for this difference, goes in those circumstances to his Department and not to the Service man.
§ Dr. GilbertThe basis for the differential between the Service and the Civil Service public transport rates of motor mileage allowance is currently under review and I will advise the hon. Member of the outcome in due course.