To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the information on boarding school allowances paid to members of the armed forces, broken down by rank, which could not be made available to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South due to disproportionate cost, as referred to in the answer of 6 November 2006, Official Report, columns 801-2W, on boarding school allowance, could be supplied in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 of 1 September 2005, reference 090717-002; and if he will make a statement. (109480)

The answer of 6 November 2006, Official Report, columns 801-2W, asked for information covering the last five years. The only year that the information had been held separated into officers and other ranks was 2005-06 and the same information for the previous years could be provided only at a disproportionate cost due to work being undertaken to transit from the three legacy systems to JPA—joint personnel administration system.

Information for 2005-06

Number of service children currently being educated utilising the MOD’s Boarding School Allowance Scheme:

As at the spring term 2005, Service Education Allowances were being paid for 7,914 children.

The breakdown of service claimants is as follows:

The number of children in receipt of Education Allowances from commissioned officer’s families:

The number of children in receipt of Education Allowances from all ratings, non-commissioned officer’s (NCO) and other ranks families: