§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she plans changes to cash limits and running cost limits on votes within her responsibility for 1996–97. [14254]
§ Mr. Robin Squire[pursuant to his reply, 31 January 1997, c. 397–98]: The cash limit for class I, vote 3: Employment Service will now be decreased by £19,553,000 rather than £20,303,000. Therefore, the new cash limit will be £1,269,42,000 not £1,268,674,000. This change has arisen because the funding of annual compensation payments for early departures between the Employment Service and the Cabinet Office will now be made by direct payment rather than a departmental transfer between votes.
Service family quarters charge for last five years 1993–94 £ 1994–95 £ 1995–96 £ 1996–97 £ 1997–98 £ Officers 41.30 43.12 47.04 53.48 56.07 Other ranks 26.46 27.74 29.68 34.02 35.93 Additionally, all service personnel pay a contribution in lieu of council tax. Some of the quarters are occupied by civilians and these charges are based on market rents which are assessed by local defence lands service offices.
§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the percentage increases per annum in rents for service family quarters in each of the past five years; what are the planned increases in each year of the planning period; and if he will make a statement. [17936]
§ Mr. SoamesThe average percentage increases recommended by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and accepted by the Government for service family quarters are as follows:
- 1993–94: 1.5 percent.
- 1994–95: 5 per cent.
- 1995–96: 5–8 per cent.
- 1996–97: 10–25 per cent.
- 1997–98: 2.7–9.1 percent.
Charges are recommended annually by the AFPRB, which has always followed the principle that charges levied on service personnel should compare fairly with the costs civilians have to incur for comparable housing. The higher percentage increases this year are for the largest, best-quality officer housing.