An interesting turn of events - 'Independent' Pay Review Board questions its own independence in its own report; MoD fights to
not pay its people more; X-Factor review produces an answer that the MoD and No 10 cannot stomach; boss of Pay Review Board does not get his contract renewed.
Quite a battle over a few million but I guess the government wanted to make sure that there was no remaining hint of 'independence' in the board and deemed that that this was an important enough message for the long term to tolerate the short-term negative press.
For the military aircrew that frequent the board the probable changes for Flying Pay--->Specialist Pay--->Recruitment and Retention Incentive--->Recruitment and Retention Pay--->back to Specialist Pay (for a bit whilst they sort out JPA) is interesting and potentially alarming.
Previous years had questioned why SP is awarded to those who could expect to receive it for the career (eg aircrew) and suggest a more targeted spine. This year there is open talk of:
proposed annual adjustments in levels of SP
flexible approach should allow levels of SP to move down as well as up in response to manning levels
recognises that when a training commitment is associated with a return-of-service commitment there is more scope to reconsider the appropriateness of paying SP
a standard 12 months notice would be given prior to any reduction in SP coming in to effect...transitional arrangements if their SP was to be decreased or stopped altogether
We broadly endorse the new approach proposed by MOD and the associated safeguarding of pay if SP rates are reduced
and just to twist-the-knife into all those new DDHs out there with that 'inescapable legal responsibility' for flying risks:
MOD also reviewed the payment of SP to those at OF5 and above. About 250 personnel at OF5 and above were in receipt of some form of SP, over 200 of whom received SP (Flying). MOD acknowledged that there was some inconsistency in the approach to SP for more senior personnel and undertook to investigate this further.
We will see how this develops but just muddying the waters in this way will have an effect; the report already notes that reserve banding and removal of SP on 'voluntary outflow' may already be driving people out at option points.
20 years ago I got a mortgage based on my basic plus flying pay - would it be wise for the next generation to do so?