§ Mr. Randallasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will announce the outcome of discussions with the staff side of the National Whitley Council on measures to ease the difficulties of civil servants who are compulsorily transferred and who are unable to provide housing deposit, in pursuance of the undertaking given to the staff side two years ago.
§ Mr. MacDermotI am glad to say that a non-industrial civil servant who is compulsorily transferred and who has to move his house as a result is now eligible for an advance equivalent to three months' salary, which will be recoverable from salary over a period up to 10 years. Such advances will be made available where it is shown that help is necessary to bridge the gap between the price of a house at the new station and the amount which the individual can realise from his own resources, including the maximum mortgage available. This scheme came into operation on 1st September and fulfils a pledge which was given to the staff side of the Civil Service National Whitley Council in November, 1963, by the previous administration.