§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce a common pay scale for the armed forces. [99262]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Department has developed a new pay structure to provide a more modern and flexible approach to remuneration for the Armed Forces. We had planned to introduce the new structure in April 2000, but this has proved to be a more complex activity than originally anticipated. It has therefore been decided that implementation should be delayed by 12 months until April 2001 to meet the paramount requirement to ensure that our Service men and women are paid correctly and on time.
The Armed Forces Pay Review Body will make pay recommendations in the normal way for the financial year beginning April 2000, based on the present pay system.