UK military pay rise 2007

[Flying_Scotsman]

ARMED FORCES GET HIGHEST PAY RISE IN PUBLIC SECTOR

LOWEST PAID GET 9.2% - OVER £100 PER MONTH

Des Browne, Defence Secretary, announced today that the Government has accepted in full the recommendations of the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body, and will implement them without delay.

The 13,000 lowest paid servicemen and women will see their pay go up by 9.2% - over £100 per month, and the biggest pay rise for four years. A further 6,000 on the next-lowest pay level will get 6.2%. There is good news too for all other ranks and officers, regulars and reserves, who will receive a 3.3% increase. This increase, the highest in the public sector, will take effect from 1 April, next month.

Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence, said:
“I am delighted to be able to announce this significant pay rise for our Armed Forces, which is thoroughly deserved after what has been a challenging year. It reflects my ongoing commitment to make sure they get the support and recognition they deserve for the tremendous work they do.

This decision comes on top of the new tax free bonus introduced in October – which gave special recognition to those on operations. Today’s decision recognises the superb work done by all our Armed Forces, wherever they serve. I am particularly pleased to confirm that our most junior servicemen and women will now get an extra £100 per month.”
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of Defence Staff, said:

“This pay increase is very good news for the Armed Forces. It recognises the key contribution our people and their families make to the nation, as well as the particularly onerous operational challenges they are having to face at the moment.

“It reflects how highly – rightly – they are valued by the Government and the country as a whole.”

Senior officers will receive a 2% increase, as recommended by the independent review body and in line with overall increases in public sector pay.

Today’s decision comes on top of the new tax free operational bonus introduced in October – which gave special recognition to those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Balkans, and which has so far been paid to around 31,000 people, totalling some £35 million.

In total, around £350 million more per year will be going into pay and allowances: £280m more in pay and £67m more for the operational bonus each year.

Today’s announcement also covered further enhancements for personnel on operations. The Longer Separation Allowance will also increase by 3.3%, and the 100 day initial qualifying period is being removed, meaning troops will be entitled to the daily rate after just ten days separated service.

In total, as a result of the increases announced today and in the autumn, a Private soldier deploying on their first operation will now receive:

• basic pay between £15,677 - £26,664
• £2,240 tax free Operational Allowance over a 6 month tour
• at least a further thousand pounds in separation allowance over a six month tour

Recruitment is improving, better than this time last year, but there are specific challenges in retaining our experienced people, and in response we are introducing new Financial Retention Incentives payable to Royal Marines, Infantry and Aircrew, providing an estimated extra £17m to approximately 2,300 additional personnel.

Notes for Editors:

1. The Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body (AFPRB) is an independent group comprising eight members and the Chairman, Professor David Greenaway. It reports annually on levels of pay for the Armed Forces.

2. The AFPRB bases its recommendations on broad comparability with similarly weighted civilian jobs. The Review Body gathers evidence from a wide variety of sources and takes account of a number of factors including Government evidence.

3. Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) comes into force for the Army from April 2007. JPA gives the individual far greater freedom to change their personal details, apply for postings, submit expenses and allowances and generally take ownership of their information. JPA was introduced to the RAF in April 2006 and the Royal Navy in October 2006.

4. Tables showing pay rates for 2006/7 and 2007/8; other public body pay awards; and examples of illustrative net pay increases (net of any increases in charges) are attached.

5. For more information about the Armed Forces Pay Rise, please contact Paul Leat in the MoD Press Office on 020 7218 3257 or visit www.mod.uk

PAY RATES – 2006/7 and 2007/08

RANK

Pay from 1/4/06

Pay from 1/4/07

Brigadier

82,990 - 86,527

85,787 – 89,444

Colonel

69,189 - 76,471

71,522 – 79,049

Lt Col

59,747 - 66,047

61,761 – 68,273

Major

42,570 - 50,983

44,005 – 52,702

Captain

33,795 - 40,190

34,935 – 41,545

Lieutenant

13,881 - 29,149

14,349 – 30,131

Warrant Officer I

34,405 - 41,672

35,565 – 43,077

Warrant Officer II &Staff Sergeant

29,612 - 38,551

30,611 – 39,851

Sergeant

26,751- 32,916

27,653 – 34,025

Corporal

23,535 - 29,576

24,328 – 30,573

Lance Corporal & Private

14,323 - 25,795

15,677 – 26,664

ILLUSTRATIVE WEEKLY PAY INCREASES OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS

Weekly

Net Increase

1

Junior Soldier based in the UK, living in Single Living accommodation (SLA)
Receives: 3.3% and Pay Range 1 increase to basic pay
Deductions: Food and accommodation charges

£24.51

2

Junior Soldier on operational deployment
Receives: 3.3% and Pay Range 1 increase to basic pay. Longer Separation Allowance and Operational Allowance.
Deductions: None

£69.30

3

Married Sergeant based in the UK, living in Service Families Accommodation (SFA)
Receives: 3.3% increase to basic pay.
Deductions: Accommodation costs.

£17.57

4

Married Sergeant on operational deployment, family in SFA in UK
Receives: 3.3% increase to basic pay. Longer Separation Allowance and Operational Allowance.
Deductions: Accommodation costs.

£19.74

5

Married Major based in UK, living in SFA
Receives: 3.3% increase to basic pay
Deductions: Accommodation costs.

£28.42

6

Married Major on operational deployment, with family in SFA in UK
Receives: 3.3% increase to basic pay. Longer Separation Allowance and Operational Allowance.
Deductions: Accommodation costs.

£31.36