§ Mr. George Thomsonasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will increase the pay of the armed forces.
§ Lord BalnielThe last pay award for the Armed Forces based on comparisons with outside pay in December, 1969 was in April, 1970. The Armed Forces Pay Review Body has now been appointed and has begun work with a view to providing a substantive Report by April, 1972. In the meantime the Government has decided to make an interim increase in the rates of pay for all ranks up to and including brigadier or equivalent of 7 per cent. from 1st August, 1971. The Chairman of the Review Body has been notified and the Review Body will take 291W the interim award into account in its substantive report in due course.
The rates for the most senior officers, major-generals and above and their equivalents are not being increased because their present rates were introduced as recently as 1st January and will be separately reviewed by the Top Salaries Pay Review Body. Similarly the present increases will not apply to medical and dental officers because their pay is linked to the pay of general practitioners of the National Health Service, whose pay is determined in the light of recommendations by their own Review Body, which is also at work at the present time.
The rates of retired pay and pensions will also be increased by 7 per cent. for officers and other ranks, other than the most senior officers, who retire on or after 1st August, 1971.
Concurrently with the increases of pay there will be corresponding increases in charges for all ranks. The food charge payable by single men and women will be raised by three new pence per day, to take account of increased costs, and the rents of married quarters will be raised by 7 per cent.
Full details of the new rates will be published in a White Paper as soon as possible.