Lord Hodson of Astley Abbottsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 26th March (WA 11) to a Question tabled on 15th January, why they are unable to give the additional amount in pounds sterling which would be payable to a private soldier on a one-month overseas unaccompanied emergency tour if he were paid at the rate of the national minimum wage. [HL2006]
173WA
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe Government are unable to provide the data for the comparison primarily because service personnel are paid on a daily rather than an hourly rate and we therefore neither have, nor need, detailed information about their hours of work. In addition, when service personnel are deployed on an overseas operational tour they are entitled to a substantial package of welfare benefits, including paid post-operational tour leave and may qualify for a longer separated service allowance.