§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has had that families have had to dispose of washing machines, refrigerators, deep freezers, children's toys and kitchen items on being posted, following the increase of 200 per cent. in Service baggage charges.
§ Dr. GilbertI am aware of some cases in which families have disposed of household goods on being posted. As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) on 17th March—[Vol. 946, c.354]—baggage scales are one of a number of areas in which I hope to see improvements made as soon as pay policy permits.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what items have been withdrawn from married quarter inventories since 1972; and whether these were taken into account in fixing baggage scales for Service families.
§ Dr. GilbertThe items which have been deleted from married quarters scales since 1972 consist mainly of kitchen544W utensils, which were outdated or rarely used, and a few items of cutlery, crockery and household linen.
No account was taken of these reductions in fixing current baggage scales which have been in force for some years.