§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that the pay and conditions of service of service men and women serving in Macedonia are comparable with those service men and women of other NATO countries. [82228]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe pay and conditions of service of personnel serving in the armed forces of NATO are governed by the needs and circumstances of individual member states and reflect the composition and role of their armed services. In the case of the UK, the pay and conditions of service package, which is recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body, reflects the fully professional status of our armed forces and their expectation of unlimited liability for world-wide deployment throughout a career.
Basic pay includes a component known as the X Factor, currently 12 per cent. for regulars, which recognises, among other things, the need to serve sometimes in difficult and dangerous situations. Unlike special operational allowances which may be paid to other countries' armed forces when on deployment, the X Factor is paid through a whole UK Service career and is pensionable. Other career benefits include, subsidised food and accommodation, assisted house purchase schemes and—while away on
1 Para 2 Para 3 Para Estb Str Estb Str Estb Str Infantry: 576 — 574 — 550 — Parachute Regiment — 457 — 536 — 443 Gurkha Reinforcement Company1 — — — 106 — — Other Infantry Cap Badges2 — 2 — 2 — 3 Royal Armoured Corpse2 — — — 1 — — Royal Logistics Corps 23 19 23 26 23 22 Royal Army Medical Corps 2 5 2 2 2 3 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 14 13 14 14 11 23 Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support) 21 23 21 22 21 23 Army Physical Training Corps 1 1 1 1 1 1 Total 637 520 635 710 608 518 1The strength figures for 2 Para include 106 Gurkhas in the Gurkha Reinforcement Company: these Officers and Soldiers are not counted in United Kingdom Trained Army Personnel figures 2Officers and Other Ranks on attachment to Parachute Regiment
§ Mr. BrazierTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date are 10 and 4 (TA) parachute battalions are due to be merged and reduced; what was their old manpower establishment; and what is their planned amalgamated manpower establishment. [82346]
§ Mr. Doug Henderson[holding answer 27 April 1999]: The TA parachute battalions, 4 Para (V) and 10 Para (V), are to be merged and reduced in size with effect from 1 July 1999. 4 Para (V) was established for 531 all ranks and 10 Para (V) was established for 530 all ranks. After 1 July 1999 the new battalion, to be called 4 Para (V), will be established for 324 all ranks. 154W operations—a special allowance to compensate for longer periods of separation known as Longer Separated Service Allowance which is payable after three years' total service. In addition, special arrangements have been made to provide our Service men and women with a wide range of supportive and welfare measures while they are deployed to the Balkans. These include the availability of 10 minutes of free telephone calls per week, return flights for rest and recreation in UK for those deployed in excess of 4 months and some free mail facilities.
Overall, it is difficult and misleading to attempt to draw precise comparisons between the different nations' armed forces serving in Macedonia based on a single aspect such as pay. A full comparison of terms and conditions of service, or the spectrum of welfare provision and facilities, is necessary.