§ Sir P. Macdonaldasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the present Income Tax allowance for Naval officers' uniform expenses is £35; that this allowance has been unchanged for many years, whilst the present cost of an officer's regulation uniform coat and trousers, including Purchase Tax, is £25; and whether in these circumstances he will arrange for the whole question of uniform allowances to be re-considered in the near future.
Mr. DugdaleSo far as the first part of the Question is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea (Commander Noble) on 29th January last. Since that date there has been no change in the kit demanded of Naval officers. As regards the second part of the Question, the reconsideration of outfit grants is an inter-Service matter but I will make inquiries to see whether it is desirable to reconsider them in the near future.