HC Deb 06 December 1977 vol 940 cc661-3W
15. Mr. Wyn Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service men stationed in Northern Ireland are housed in sub-standard accommodation.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

As my right hon. Friend indicated in his answers to the Members for Harborough (Mr. Farr) and Eastbourne (Mr. Gow) on 8th November—[Vol. 938, c. 466–8.]—we attempt to maintain as high a standard of accommodation for Service men in Northern Ireland as operational circumstances permit. Currently only some 650 soldiers, out of a force of some 14,000, are living in conditions less satisfactory than I would wish. Measures now in hand will reduce the number to 450 or so by early next year. The House will know that, under the field service conditions declared in the Province, food and accommodation charges are waived for all Service men.

2. Mr. Gow

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present purchasing power of the special daily payment to members of the Armed Forces serving in Northern Ireland, as compared with the 50p at the time when this payment was introduced; and what proposals he has for increasing this sum.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

In September. the latest month for which the retail price index is available, the purchasing power of this daily payment was 28.6 pence compared to 50p at the time of its introduction in April 1974. The financial situation of Service men in Northern Ireland is a matter of continuing concern to my right hon. Friend and to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, but I cannot at present forecast when an adjustment to this payment will be made.

29. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service men stationed in Northern Ireland are occupying sub-standard or unsatisfactory accommodation at the present time; and what was the position five years ago.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

The term "sub-standard" when applied to Service accommodation usually signifies accommodation below the approved scale and for which reduced charges are levied. As my right hon. Friend indicated in his answers to the Members for Harborough (Mr. Farr) and Eastbourne (Mr. Gow) on 8th November—[Vol. 938, c. 466–468]—these scales do not apply in the field service conditions of Northern Ireland where, incidentally, all food and accommodation charges are waived. Nonetheless, we attempt, as in all field service theatres, to maintain as high a standard of accommodation as operational circumstances permit, and currently only some 650 soldiers are living in conditions less satisfactory than I would wish out of a force of some 14,000. Measures now in hand will reduce the number to 450 or so by early next year. This is a massive improvement on the position five years ago, when unsatisfactory accommodation for the greatly increased numbers of Service men posted to the Province was the norm rather than the exception.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the expenditure on accommodation for Service men in Northern Ireland during each of the last five years.

1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77
£m. £m. £m. £m. £m.
Army 7.36 7.60 13.62 21.60 15.30
Royal Air Force 0.52 1.17 1.35 2.15 1.51
Navy * * * 0.12 0.13
* No expenditure was incurred by the Navy during this period as its personnel were either accommodated by the Army or aboard HMS "Maidstone".

Rear-Admiral Morgan-Giles

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the daily rate of pay of a married private soldier with two children during an emergency tour of duty in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Mulley

A private Class I, Scale C, Band 1 would receive a gross daily rate of £8.36, including 50p Northern Ireland pay. Assuming he had a wife and two children under 11 in a married quarter in the United Kingdom, his pay net of tax, insurance and married quarter charge would be £5.99 per day. His wife would, of course, be receiving the normal child benefit of £2.50 weekly.

The private would be unaccompanied since he would be on an emergency tour and would not be charged for his food and accommodation in Northern Ireland. If he were based in Germany he would retain 70 per cent. of his normal local overseas allowance there, to cover the higher cost of living still being borne by his wife and children. This would give him an additional £3.65 daily tax free.

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