MEMBERS of the Army and RAF aged over 35 are to be allowed to apply for interest-free loans to buy homes, the Government disclosed yesterday.
Service personnel will be able to get an advance of pay of up to #8500 repayable over 10 years - as members of the Royal Navy can now.
It will replace the current Married Quarters Discounted Sale Scheme, whereby Service personnel can get a 30% discount when they buy surplus MoD properties.
In a Commons written reply, Defence Procurement Minister James Arbuthnot said the new scheme would come into force on August 1 this year.
``The scheme will allow us to target resources more effectively to assist retention,'' he said.
It will be available to all regular Army and RAF personnel aged 35 and over on pensionable engagements or commissions.
The qualifying age for the Royal Navy scheme will be reduced from 25 to 23.
Mr Arbuthnot said: ``The purpose of the Married Quarters Discounted Sale Scheme has been to assist service personnel into home ownership.
``It has been popular, but has over the years necessarily helped a relatively modest number of personnel.
``This, combined with the proposed sale of the Married Quarters Estate, has resulted in consideration of a replacement scheme.''
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