§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will give an assurance that, on the Government implementing the Boyle report on top salaries so far as it affects the top paid military personnel or any amended form of the report, other officers and other ranks will be able to claim the same relative pay rates on a comparative basis and maintain their differentials irrespective of the 10 per cent. or any other amended form of wage and salary restraint.
§ Dr. GilbertThe Top Salaries Review Body's report covers the salaries of military personnel of the rank of major-general and above. The pay of Service men up to the rank of brigadier falls within the remit of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. The Government's decisions on the seventh report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (Cmnd 7177) were announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 25th April 1978—[Vol. 948, c. 1178–9].
The Top Salaries Review Body and the Armed Forces Pay Review Body in their reports take full account of the appropriate differentials between brigadier and major-general. The two review bodies have one member in common to facilitate this and other considerations. In making its decisions on the recommendations of the two review bodies the Government also take full account of the differentials involved.