Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton and his rising household costs
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Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton and his rising household costs
So, whilst there is a shortage of housing at the largest (in manning terms) RAF base where people are living in damp ridden 1950's prefabs that look like the worst suburb of a district in Helmand, this person is spending more on his official household!!!!!!!!
Well done Sir..................
I couldn't bare the thought of you having to run your own bath and prepare your jammys and a nice cup of cocoa. Do the extra staff tuck you in at night and read you a story?
Three defence chiefs' staff costs rise as frontline troops are cut - Telegraph
Well done Sir..................
I couldn't bare the thought of you having to run your own bath and prepare your jammys and a nice cup of cocoa. Do the extra staff tuck you in at night and read you a story?Three defence chiefs' staff costs rise as frontline troops are cut - Telegraph
Last edited by Lushington; 3rd Nov 2012 at 10:16.
We remain committed to bearing down on the costs associated with senior staff.
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Though two other VSOs managed to cut costs (albeit from a very high base in the case of the Admiral):
"By contrast, the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, and the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, have managed to reduce the cost of their household staff. Admiral Stanhope cut his bill from £161,000 in 2009-10 to £113,000 in 2011-12, while General Wall more than halved his costs from £124,000 in 2009-10 to £59,000 in 2011-12."
"By contrast, the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, and the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, have managed to reduce the cost of their household staff. Admiral Stanhope cut his bill from £161,000 in 2009-10 to £113,000 in 2011-12, while General Wall more than halved his costs from £124,000 in 2009-10 to £59,000 in 2011-12."
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A large part of the job of very senior officers is to cultivate and entertain, on behalf of and for the benefit of the MoD and government, people of influence from this and from other countries. They can't do that without suitable accommodation, staff and entertainment allowance.
Despite Lushington's cynicism I suspect that they do actually run their own baths.
Despite Lushington's cynicism I suspect that they do actually run their own baths.
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When I was in singlie accommodation at Brize, actually finding a plug was a miracle, let alone filling it with water.
You'd have thought Dalton would keep his head down after he inexplicably kept his job after writing lies to the press a couple of years ago about the Mull of Kintyre accident.
With the possible exception of KEnsington palace, these are hardly palatial palaces for the service chiefs. I have visited one for an official function (as a very junior supernumary) and was astounded at how frugal and threadbare it was.
If you look at the diary of a 4*, you will find it is full, usually 7 days per week, and they work very long hours, ranging from official breakfasts through to late night functions, and are also expected to do a busy and challenging job.
The role of the retinue is to provide a driver, a cook, a valet and ensure that their VSO gets to the right place, in the right rig, and is able to host some very senior foreign officials in a reasonable way. The food is not luxurious foie gras, but normal officers mess type cooking.
We may grumble, but having seen first hand the importance many foreign VSOs attach to building good working relationships with their UK numbers, and also the way in which we expect them to represent the UK and their service, I would rather a small amount of public money was spent on this, rather than some dire 'PC' project. The value the UK gets from this silent diplomacy is incalculable, but makes a real difference.
If you look at the diary of a 4*, you will find it is full, usually 7 days per week, and they work very long hours, ranging from official breakfasts through to late night functions, and are also expected to do a busy and challenging job.
The role of the retinue is to provide a driver, a cook, a valet and ensure that their VSO gets to the right place, in the right rig, and is able to host some very senior foreign officials in a reasonable way. The food is not luxurious foie gras, but normal officers mess type cooking.
We may grumble, but having seen first hand the importance many foreign VSOs attach to building good working relationships with their UK numbers, and also the way in which we expect them to represent the UK and their service, I would rather a small amount of public money was spent on this, rather than some dire 'PC' project. The value the UK gets from this silent diplomacy is incalculable, but makes a real difference.
Suspicion breeds confidence
A very valid point. Yes they do have a function in entertaining and hosting. But if CGS and 1SL can make major cutbacks in their spend why can't CAS? This needs to be looked at very carefully to ensure that taxpayer money is well represented. A cap is the only sensible answer.
The change in grace and favour homes and staff is long overdue IMHO, If CGS can do with £60k so can the others. BZ to him and his team for making it happen.
The change in grace and favour homes and staff is long overdue IMHO, If CGS can do with £60k so can the others. BZ to him and his team for making it happen.
Last edited by Navaleye; 3rd Nov 2012 at 23:39.
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these are hardly palatial palaces for the service chiefs
In a keynote speech, outlining his vision for the future of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton suggested sending fewer staff forward to the operation, and running control from a remote rear-headquarters.
Last edited by Lushington; 4th Nov 2012 at 00:45.
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But if CGS and 1SL can make major cutbacks in their spend why can't CAS? This needs to be looked at very carefully to ensure that taxpayer money is well represented. A cap is the only sensible answer.
The change in grace and favour homes and staff is long overdue IMHO, If CGS can do with £60k so can the others. BZ to him and his team for making it happen.
The change in grace and favour homes and staff is long overdue IMHO, If CGS can do with £60k so can the others. BZ to him and his team for making it happen.
I always used to think, that the place often for any Senior Military officer was down their with his troops at the coal face, so they could really get a grip on what real life was like. I make no comment on the state & performance of many of to days UK Senior Military Officers, other than to suggest, Monty would be turning in his grave!!
Last edited by kaikohe76; 4th Nov 2012 at 06:54.
It doesn't matter how bad the top brass are perceived to be by the general public, there will always be folks on this forum that will defend them to the bitter end. It's called aircrew/officers looking after themselves, and sod the other ranks.
For thus it was, it is, and shall be for evermore.
For thus it was, it is, and shall be for evermore.
He needs a DI
I think the CAS needs a drill instructor on his staff. It makes me cringe watching him mince around the Cenotaph. Get some military bearing into the walking scarecrow I say!
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Personally all ranks should have the same standard accommodation, regardless, it has to be cheaper to standardise it on one married quarter design. It will also hopefully improve the stock.
AtG you been on the wacky baccy again?
AtG you been on the wacky baccy again?
Last edited by NutLoose; 4th Nov 2012 at 13:24.
So what may I ask is outrageous about flying pay? Many years ago in Germany, a blunty from SHQ was banging on about flying pay in the bar on a Friday night! Needless to say, his comments were overheard by one of the"Boys" who quite rightly took him to task!
OK he said to the blunty, how about every year we all come down to SHQ, line you all up and randomly shoot two? That would equate to the number of guys on this station who lost their lives sitting in their office!! That's why they get flying pay!
Any questions?
Names, dates and places withheld for good reason!
Oh and before I forget! I would be quite happy shooting Air Marshall's too!
OK he said to the blunty, how about every year we all come down to SHQ, line you all up and randomly shoot two? That would equate to the number of guys on this station who lost their lives sitting in their office!! That's why they get flying pay!
Any questions?
Names, dates and places withheld for good reason!
Oh and before I forget! I would be quite happy shooting Air Marshall's too!
Last edited by newt; 4th Nov 2012 at 14:59.