§ 70. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the entitlement of free travel warrants each year to a man and his wife, respectively, serving as follows: Service men and civil servants in Northern Ireland, Service men and civil servants in Scotland, Service men and civil servants in West Germany, and that of the wife of a convicted criminal living on social security.
§ Dr. GilbertService men stationed anywhere in the United Kingdom are entitled to four free travel warrants during each leave year for return journeys from their duty station to any destination in the United Kingdom. Families of Service men are not entitled to free leave travel warrants, but a married Service man may transfer up to two of his four annual leave warrants to his wife or children. In addition to this, a married Service man who is separated from his family may be entitled to up to a further eight free travel warrants annually while separated, any of which may be transferred to his wife or children.
In addition to the normal entitlements, Service men on emergency tours in Northern Ireland are entitled to one free return journey to Great Britain, or West Germany if stationed in BAOR, during each four-month tour, and two free return journeys in each eight-month tour. Families of married Service men based in West Germany are also entitled to one free return journey to Great Britain during each emergency tour.
Service men stationed in West Germany are entitled to three free return leave journeys each year. Within this entitle-men some free travel to the United Kingdom is permitted, and this varies according to marital status and, if married, whether or not the Service man is accompanied by his family.
Free warrants are also issued to Service men for compassionate leave travel.
Ministry of Defence civil servants in the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, who are required to serve away from their family home are entitled to a weekly return journey home at public expense. Those serving in West Germany have no free travel entitlement 524W other than at the beginning and end of their tours.
Both Service men and civilians are also issued with free warrants for duty travel.
The question of free travel for the wives of convicted criminals is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.