§ Mr. Beggsasked the Secretary. of State for Social Services how many members of the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force in Great Britain are claiming supplementary benefit, family income supplement, or rent and rate rebates.
§ Dr. BoysonRegular members of the armed forces are in full-time work and are not entitled to supplementary benefit. It is regretted that information is not available about the number claiming family income supplement.
Members of the armed forces living in Crown property, in common with other crown tenants and licensees, are not eligible for help under the statutory housing benefit scheme. Information on claims to housing benefit from service personnel living in other property is not available.
I understand, however, from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence that the armed forces operate a separate system of rent and rates for members living in service accommodation, and that the number in receipt of rebates under this scheme in March 1984 was as follows:
Number Army 3,027 Royal Navy 5 Royal Marines 100 Royal Air Force 705 These figures are for claimants in the United Kingdom, because records do not generally distinguish between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.