Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing financial support to service personnel for the transport and accommodation costs incurred as a result of internal assignment orders.

Members of the Armed Forces already have access to a range of generous allowances to ensure that the financial impact of undertaking assignments is minimised and is not unduly burdensome. Support includes Motor Mileage Allowance, for those who use their own private transport; Home to Duty Travel allowance, a non-taxable contribution towards commuting costs; and Duty Travel Allowance, which ensures that the costs of travel for work purposes are met. Defence has also rolled out a number of initiatives in response to the rise in cost-of-living, including a 7% increase to Home to Duty rates. Furthermore, Defence acknowledges Service life can cause disruption and disadvantage when compared to civilian life, which is why X-Factor is included as an addition to Service Personnel's Annual Salary.

Defence recognises the inherently mobile, often geographically remote, nature of life in the Armed Forces, which is why our Regular Service and Full Time Reserve Service (Full Commitment) personnel are provided with high quality subsidised accommodation. Those that need to move house because of their Service duties may claim for Disturbance Expenses, as well as Movement and Storage of Personal Effects which entitles them to move and/or store personal effects at public expense when assigned to a new qualifying duty station. Service personnel based overseas may also claim, where eligible, the Overseas Rent Allowance, which reimburses personnel with the necessary cost of rent and utilities for rented accommodation where there is no suitable Service accommodation. Those on a qualifying assignment or operation can claim Council Tax Relief, a contribution towards their Council Tax payments.