§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the outfit allowance granted to officers when first commissioned, being insufficient to cover the increased cost due to the Purchase 581W Tax, of those articles of uniform and kit which they are required to possess, he will release them from the obligation to be in possession of service dress, having regard to existing instructions that battledress may be worn on all occasions for which uniform is prescribed?
§ Captain MargessonSo far as the effect of the Purchase Tax on the cost of an officer's outfit is concerned, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 23rd April. The question whether officers should be released from the obligation to purchase service dress is being further examined, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that, if service dress is not required, the inclusion of an element in outfit allowance in respect of service dress will no longer be justified.