§ Dr. NaysmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the pay of medical and dental officers in the armed forces. [125580]
§ Mr. HoonThe Armed Forces Pay Review Body has made recommendations on the pay of medical and dental officers in the armed forces. Consistent with the awards recommended by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body, and to maintain comparability with the salary scales of NHS doctors, the Review Body recommends that all medical and dental officers should receive a general 3.3 per cent. increase in basic pay. The Review Body also recommends a number of additions to the pay scales for consultants and general medical practitioners to reflect additional payments already agreed for comparators in the NHS. In addition, Service medical and dental officers receive the same rate of X-factor as combatants, which increased by 1 per cent. from 1 April 2000.
The Government have decided to accept the Review Body's recommendations and these will be payable in full from 1 April 2000.