§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of staff in his Department who were on 1st July in receipt of salaries and expenses of £135 per week or more; and if he will give similar details for those in the three Armed Services.
§ Dr. GilbertThere are about 4,700 Ministry of Defence civil servants and 7,200 members of the Armed Forces whose pay and other pensionable emoluments total £135 or more a week.
§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the assumed taxation rates and allowances referred to in footnote 2 to paragraph 20 of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body's Sixth Report; what is now the position in the light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's most recent proposals; how far paragraph 20 of that report reflects the present position in regard to the after-tax remuneration of different categories of married 31W and unmarried Service men and women living in service accommodation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MulleyThe Review Body on Armed Forces Pay is an independent body, and Government Ministers are not privy to its deliberations. However, I understand that the position described in the Sixth Report—paragraph 20 and footnote 2—in fact reflects only the changes in personal allowances, the extension of the basic rate band and changes to the higher rate hands announced in the Chancellor's Budget Statement to the House on 29th March 1977 and the previously announced reductions in child tax allowances, they affect the recommended supplements. On the basis of the Chancellor's most recent proposals, the general position set out in paragraph 20 of its Sixth Report remains unchanged, though the net supplements after tax for some of the categories concerned will, of course, be marginally increased.
As I made clear to the House on 16th June 1977 and again to the hon. Member on 11th July 1977, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body was not looking at total pay. On that basis no member of the Armed Forces is to my knowledge worse off as a result of the pay review and the Chancellor's latest measures will have a more marked effect.