asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake to bring Service personnel into line with Foreign Office employees in respect of financial assistance to alleviate accommodation and legal expenses when tenants refuse to vacate private rented properties which constitute a Service family's principal home.

It would not be possible to extend the Diplomatic Service scheme to the Armed Forces under the current stage of the pay policy except at the expense of the Services' next pay award. We will, however, consider such a scheme when circumstances permit.