CHANGES to the style of entertaining by senior defence staff and the
use of their official homes were signalled by Armed Forces Minister
Nicholas Soames in the Commons yesterday.
Mr Soames also paid tribute to Air Chief Marshal Sir Sandy Wilson,
whose early retirement was announced this month after a report on
#387,000 renovation work at his official residence -- Haymes Garth in
Gloucestershire.
The Minister told the House that a report into entertaining and the
use of residences is expected to be with the Government by the end of
the month.
''It may well be that there are aspects of the current arrangements
which we shall want to change in the future,'' he said.
His comments come after disclosures of thousands of pounds spent on
renovating senior officers' official residences where they carry out
entertaining duties.
The report is being prepared by leading businessman and former
chairman of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body Sir Peter Cazalet.
Mr Soames said burdens placed on senior officers who had to carry out
representational and social duties were ''very considerable''.
They represented ''an often unwelcome intrusion into their lives and
the lives of their families'', he added.
However, he emphasised: ''Our existing arrangements are intended to
enable senior officers to fulfil their official responsibilities which
are of great importance to the interests of this country.''
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