HC Deb 29 January 2002 vol 379 c217W
Paul Farrclly

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the report and recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. [31723]

Mr. Hoon

The 2002 Report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body has been published today. Copies of the report are available in the Vote Office and the Library of the House. I wish to express my thanks to the Chairman and members of the Review Body for their clear and wide-ranging report.

The AFPRB has recommended an increase in basic military salary of 3.7 per cent, for the majority of personnel and 4.2 per cent, for privates, lance corporals, captains and majors. The AFPRB has also recommended increases in the rates of additional pay (eg flying pay, submarine pay and diving pay) and in charges. The AFPRB has also recommended two Financial Retention Incentives to help address the issues identified by the Comprehensive Review of Aircrew Retention undertaken with HM Treasury and external consultants last year.

The additional cost to the Defence budget will be £236 million. This will be met within existing departmental expenditure limits.

The AFPRB's recommendations are to be accepted in full, with implementation effective from 1 April 2002.

Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the Armed Forces Pay Review Body has taken into account the non-pensionability of specialist pay when setting rates of specialist pay in each of the last five years. [28718]

Mr. Ingrain

As with all the areas covered by its remit, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body recommends the rate it believes appropriate in the light of all the evidence and its terms of reference.

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