§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence what categories of United Kingdom-based civil servants, serving on detachment overseas with Her Majesty's forces, qualify for free accommodation, heating and lighting; and why similar facilities are not available to members of Her Majesty's Forces.
§ Dr. GilbertAll home civil servants who occupy official accommodation while serving overseas receive a reduced rate of Foreign Service Allowance. This takes account of the provision of free accommodation, heating and lighting.
Unlike servicemen, home civil servants are normally provided with official accommodation only while they are serving overseas. If a charge were to be raised, FSA would have to be increased by a similar amount. To provide servicemen with free accommodation, heating and lighting would involve a major departure from the concept of the military salary and would, for any given level of military salary, involve an adjustment in basic pay to take account of the provision of income in kind.