§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the annual cost of introducing a separation allowance of £5 a week for each married member of the Services who was separated from his family due to absence on duty from his normal place for more than three months at a time.
§ Dr. GilbertSeparation allowance is already paid to married Service men separated from their wives, for Service reasons, for periods beyond the qualifying period of 30 days continuous separation. Those at sea or at an overseas station other than in North-West Europe receive 65p per day—£4.55 per week. In the United Kingdom and North-West Europe the rate is 50p per day—£3.50 per week. The current estimated total cost of the three Services of separation allowance is about £3.5 million per annum. If the rate were increased to £5 per week, the 145W estimated annual cost under the present rules would be £4.7 million per annum.