§ Mr. Joseph Deanasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement about the pay of the Armed Forces.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Armed Forces Pay Review Body has submitted its Sixth Report on Armed Forces pay. It is published today as Cmnd. 6801 and copies are avilable in the Vote Office. The report covers the pay for all ranks up to and including brigadier.
The Government have accepted the Review Body's recommendations, which are in accordance with the anti-inflation policy. The Government wish to express their thanks to the Review Body for its continuing valuable work.
In its Report the Review Body recommends that all officers and adult Service men and women should receive a pay supplement of 5 per cent. of their gross taxable earnings within lower and upper limits of £2.50 and £4 a week respectively; and that juniors and apprentices should receive proportionately smaller supplements. It also recommends that if a supplement under current restraint measures is introduced by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body for general medical practitioners in the National Health Service the same amount should 449W be paid to medical and dental officers in the Services of the rank of brigadier—and equivalent—and below.
Finally, the Review Body recommends increases in food and accommodation charges for all members of the Services.
The effective date for all these increases is 1st April 1977.