Will the AFPRB bother to report this year?
Ok, so it's a little early to start the normal discussion about next year's pay rise (?) now. However, with the Chancellor having already said that Armed Forces pay will be frozen for the next 2 years, I'm wondering how this sits with the AFPRB. I thought that the object of this organisation was to be independant from the government and provide a recommendation on pay and allowances every year.
To my knowledge the governement has only ever rubber stamped their recommendation and has always implemented it. I'm left wondering what is the point of the AFPRB's work this year? Or will they come to the conclusion that pay should be frozen too?
I notice how the PM was keen to point out the increase in OA (which I obviously whole-heartedly support) but doesn't seem to have mentioned the pay freeze, NI and Income Tax increases and reductions in other allowances (HTD being one example?).