§ Mr. George Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the numbers of (a) officers, (b) NCO's and (c) other ranks who obtained educational grants for boarding education from his Department in the latest convenient year, the cost of such grants in each category and the average cost of each grant.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownIn the financial year 1974–75, boarding school allowances were paid to 9,972 officers in respect of 16,501 children, and to 3,479 Service men in respect of 5,246 children. It is not possible to state how many of the Service men were NCOs, but such information as is available suggests that they were in the majority.
The total cost—including loading for income tax—of all education allowances was £16.069 million, of which £13.135 million was for officers and £2.934 million for Service men. After excluding day school allowances, which are estimated to have totalled £60,000, the average annual cost per child was £795 for officers and £551 for Service men.
As explained in reply to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Litterick) on 27th November 1975—[Vol. 901. c. 300–2.]—the maximum rates of boarding school allowance payable are common to all ranks and are neither wage- nor rank-related.