§ 39. Mr. Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make 625W arrangements for the wives of Service men serving in BAOR to obtain weekly child benefit allowances as an alternative to the sums being included with their husband's monthly pay.
§ Dr. GilbertA wife accompanying a Service man overseas can claim child benefit direct if she so wishes. A wife in the United Kingdom of a Service man who is overseas draws child benefit in the same way as any other mother resident in the United Kingdom.
§ 40. Mr. Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the rates of mileage allowance payable to wives of Service men who undertake social work for the Services in the United Kingdom, and compare these with the rates paid to civilian social workers.
§ Dr. GilbertWives of Army personnel who undertake social work for the services in the United Kingdom are entitled to motor mileage allowance at the public transport rate for any mileage in excess of 45 miles per month. The current public transport rate is 5.5p per mile.
The rates of motor mileage allowance payable to all grades of civilians employed by MOD, including welfare officers, were stated on 5th December 1977 in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Hemsworth (Mr. Woodall)—[Vol. 940, cols. 536–537.]
§ 41. Mr. Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence when the Service men's separation allowance was last reviewed; and what were the results of any review.
§ Dr. GilbertThe Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) last reviewed separation allowance in 1975. The second supplement to its Third Report (Cmnd. 5853) refers. The main recommendations, which were accepted by the Government, were for a minimum qualifying period of continuous separation of 30 days and the introduction of higher rates of allowance for separation overseas. In consequence, entitled personnel at sea or at an overseas station other than in North-West Europe receive 65p per day—£4.55 per week—separation allowance. In the United Kingdom and North West Europe the rate is 50p per day—£3.50 per week.
§ 42. Mr. Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence if rates of disturbance 626W allowance are paid at a reduced rate to Service men and their families who are obliged to move within a period of six months; and why this is so.
§ Dr. GilbertAs I explained to the hon. Member on 26th January, there are various rates of disturbance allowance. They are designed to meet the circumstances of the different types of move which face Service men and their families. One of the conditions which must normally be fulfilled before this allowance can be given is that the beneficiary must be expected to serve at least six months at the new place of duty. However, if, exceptionally, a Service man were subsequently posted to another station within the six months and therefore had again to move his family for Service reasons, he would be entitled to a further issue of disturbance allowance, subject to the normal conditions relating to that allowance. If the hon. Member writes to me about any particular case he may have in mind, I shall be happy to look into it.