§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial assistance his Department plans to provide for service personnel to assist with increases in rents for family quarters; and if he will make a statement. [17948]
§ Mr. SoamesWe do not propose to introduce any additional financial assistance to compensate for the rises in service accommodation charges.
The Armed Forces Pay Review Body recommends levels of pay and charges broadly comparable to those in the civilian sector. The level of accommodation charge is based on the costs of comparable housing, less an abatement to take account of the relative disadvantages of living in service accommodation. Taking account of the increases in pay due to come into effect on 1 April and 1 December 1997, no personnel will experience a net decrease in pay as a result of the increases in accommodation charges.