§ Patrick MercerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what change there has been in the pay scales of(a) reservists and (b) regular service personnel since 1997. [115530]
§ Dr. MoonieThe pay scales for reservist and regular Service personnel have been uplifted each year since 1997 in accordance with the recommendations contained in the annual reports of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, copies of which may be found in the Libraries of both Houses. In addition, in April 2001 the Ministry of Defence introduced Pay 2000, a new incremental pay system designed to better meet the needs of Service personnel in the 21st century. With the exception of Service Medical and Dental Officers, who will remain on a separate discrete system, the last categories of reservist and regular Service personnel will have transferred to Pay 2000 by 1 October 2003.