§ 24. Mr. James Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the operation of the Army and the UDR in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownI would refer the hon. Member to the reply on the Army's operations in Northern Ireland which I gave earlier to the hon. Members for Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison) and Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson): The UDR continues to play an important part in these operations.
§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of Stale for Defence if he will circulate in the Official Report a copy of the instructions issued by the Ministry of Defence in March 1973 to all commands and districts relating to the reimbursement, in certain circumstances, of VAT and car tax, by the Ministry of Defence to members of the Armed Forces who had been serving in Northern Ireland; if he will ensure that those instructions are publicised regularly and widely at unit level; in how many cases, since March 1973, reimbursement has been made, and of what total amount; and whether he is satisfied that the 1973 instructions are widely known and understood by members of the Armed Forces who have served or are serving in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownDetailed instructions were issued to all Commands and Districts in March 1973. Minor amendments have since been made to make it clear that the vehicles must have been delivered to and used in BAOR to qualify for reimbursement of import duty 151W or VAT and tax. The instructions otherwise stand, and I have no reason to suppose that those in a position to benefit from them are not aware of the concession. If the hon. Member has evidence which suggests otherwise I will consider reissuing them.
Since the instructions were issued 47 claims have been submitted and 28 approved. The total amount reimbursed since March 1973 has been £4,310.31.
I have arranged for a copy of the instructions to be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the amount of the additional daily payment being made to members of Her Majesty's Forces serving in Northern Ireland if it were to have the same purchasing powers as 50p, which was the amount paid with effect from 1st April 1974, and unchanged since that date.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown66p.