§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence further to his reply to the hon. Member for Tynemouth of 15th November, whether the evidence he is at present giving to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body includes information as to (a) the shortfall of the levels of Service pay compared with other occupations and (b) the resulting hardship suffered of those serving in the forces; and if he will publish his evidence to the Review Body.
§ Mr. MulleyThe Armed Forces Pay Review Body is supported by the independent Office of Manpower Economics, which has the prime responsibility for providing the relevant statistical pay data. My Department is in the course 629W of preparing the evidence required on Service conditions, and will give the Review Body every possible assistance in its work. The Review Body receives evidence from a variety of sources on a confidential basis, and it decides what it is appropriate to make public in its reports. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for me to publish the evidence submitted to it by my Department.