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| Pay troops more, Army head urges | Pay troops more, Army head urges |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| More money should be invested in the Armed Forces to ensure a well-trained and well-motivated force, Army head General Sir Richard Dannatt has said. | More money should be invested in the Armed Forces to ensure a well-trained and well-motivated force, Army head General Sir Richard Dannatt has said. |
| In an unusual move for a serving Army chief, he told the Sun troops should get above inflation pay rises and that more should be spent on their welfare. | |
| He also called for a debate on what proportion of national wealth should be spent on defence. | |
| The MoD said troops got other forms of remuneration such as tax relief. | The MoD said troops got other forms of remuneration such as tax relief. |
| Servicemen go on operations knowing they are putting their lives on the line - it is very hard to put a price on that General Sir Richard Dannatt | Servicemen go on operations knowing they are putting their lives on the line - it is very hard to put a price on that General Sir Richard Dannatt |
| While in Afghanistan to visit troops, the Chief of the General Staff said: "You look to see how much a traffic warden is paid and compare that against what a private soldier gets paid. | While in Afghanistan to visit troops, the Chief of the General Staff said: "You look to see how much a traffic warden is paid and compare that against what a private soldier gets paid. |
| "To make sure that we have armed services - in my case an army - populated by motivated and well-trained people, we have got to look after their individual needs well enough. | "To make sure that we have armed services - in my case an army - populated by motivated and well-trained people, we have got to look after their individual needs well enough. |
| "Servicemen go on operations knowing they are putting their lives on the line. It is very hard to put a price on that." | "Servicemen go on operations knowing they are putting their lives on the line. It is very hard to put a price on that." |
| However, Sir Richard went on to say the Army found other ways of rewarding soldiers for the risks they take, such as through medals recognising "gallantry" and "meritorious service". | However, Sir Richard went on to say the Army found other ways of rewarding soldiers for the risks they take, such as through medals recognising "gallantry" and "meritorious service". |
| He said servicemen's pay should increase above the rate of inflation for the next two years, and continue to rise if the level of deployment continued. | He said servicemen's pay should increase above the rate of inflation for the next two years, and continue to rise if the level of deployment continued. |
| 'Operational allowance' | 'Operational allowance' |
| He said it was a democratic issue for the country to decide how much to spend on the armed forces, but that it was also "perfectly legitimate" to have a debate on the issue and challenged politicians to "set their priorities out". | He said it was a democratic issue for the country to decide how much to spend on the armed forces, but that it was also "perfectly legitimate" to have a debate on the issue and challenged politicians to "set their priorities out". |
| The Ministry of Defence said pay was only one element of a soldiers' salary, which includes allowances for housing, food, tax relief and schooling. | The Ministry of Defence said pay was only one element of a soldiers' salary, which includes allowances for housing, food, tax relief and schooling. |
| An MoD spokesman said: "In February we announced a pay rise of 2.6% for all Servicemen and women, which builds upon last year's award of over 9% for the most junior ranks. | An MoD spokesman said: "In February we announced a pay rise of 2.6% for all Servicemen and women, which builds upon last year's award of over 9% for the most junior ranks. |
| "A private on their first operation will receive a minimum of £16,227, plus a 2,320 tax-free operational allowance." | "A private on their first operation will receive a minimum of £16,227, plus a 2,320 tax-free operational allowance." |