HL Deb 12 June 1973 vol 343 cc684-6WA
LORD WINTERBOTTOM

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have received a report from the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and what decisions have been reached.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE (LORD CARRINGTON)

Her Majesty's Government have received a report from the Armed Forces Pay Review Body which is published to-day as Cmnd. 5336. Copies are available in the Printed Paper Office.

Her Majesty's Government accept the recommendations in the report, all of which accord with the counter-inflation policy. There will be increases in pay from April 1, 1973, for all ranks up to and including Brigadier (and equivalents in the other two Services), except for medical and dental offices whose pay will be reported on separately. There will be increases in food and accommodation charges from May 1, 1973.

The pay of the Women's and Nursing Services is being increased from the same date from 93 per cent. to 95 per cent. (exclusive of the "X"-factors) of the men's rates as a further step towards equal pay. The opportunity has also been taken at this review to simplify and re-structure the pay scales for apprentices and juniors and to allow for the later age at which they start to be recruited as a result of the raising of the school-leaving age.

The increases in accommodation charges include the same average increase of 50p a week in basic rent as is required of tenants of local authority houses under the Housing Finance Act 1972. From May 1, 1973, when the rents increase, a rent rebate scheme is being introduced in the Services, at home and overseas, to assist those Servicemen whose rent is high in relation to their income and family commitments. The scheme is on similar lines to the local authority schemes required by the Housing Finance Act 1972.

Her Majesty's Government are most grateful to the members of the Review Body on Armed Forces Pay for their work in preparing their report.

House adjourned at twentynine minutes before eleven o'clock.