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Pay troops more, Army head urges Brown makes pledge on forces' pay
(10 days 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. The prime minister says the government will do "everything in our power" to help members of the armed forces, after criticism of how much they get paid.
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. Mr Brown said a White Paper would set out the help available to troops in areas such as healthcare and education.
He also called for a debate on what proportion of national wealth should be spent on defence. He spoke after Army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt called for pay rises above inflation for service personnel.
The MoD said troops got other forms of remuneration such as tax relief. In an interview in the Sun, Sir Richard compared soldiers' pay with that of traffic wardens and police.
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 'We wish to help'
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. Mr Brown said: "I recognise the huge contribution that our armed forces make to the security of the country and we will continue to try to reward our armed forces for the dedication and commitment they show, often in very difficult theatres of war.
"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. PRIVATE'S PAY Salary at age 18: £16,227 Operational Allowance: (182 days) £2,380.56 (during six month tour of Afghanistan)Longer Separation Allowance: (182 days) £1,132.04Other perks including dental care and free eye tests: £510Financial assistance for learning costs: £2,175Subsidised living accommodation: £425.83Estimated annual employers' pension contribution: £3,148.04Total: £25,998.47Source: Ministry of Defence
"We will do everything in our power in the years to come to recognise the great individual contribution that is made by all the members of the Army, the navy, and the air force."
He said that the most junior grades received a 9% pay rise last year, "and that is an indication of how we wish to help the people in our armed forces".
Earlier, in the Sun, Sir Richard said: "You look to see how much a traffic warden is paid and compare that against what a private soldier gets paid.
"If you compare a police constable on overtime, I think you will find that an individual serviceman gets quite a lot less."
He said more money must be spent on the armed forces for the UK to win the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I'd like to see service pay go up above inflation for the next couple of years and keep going up if this level of commitment continues.
TRAFFIC WARDEN WAGES Central London: About £17,000 starting wageOutside London: About £15,000 starting wage Figures provided by NCP
"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". Sir Richard also said more should be spent on troop welfare, and called for a debate on what proportion of national wealth should be spent on defence.
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. However, he 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".
'Operational allowance' 'More priority'
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". One British soldier, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC News no-one in the Army was looking for preferential treatment - but equal treatment would be nice.
The Ministry of Defence said pay was only one element of a soldiers' salary, which includes allowances for housing, food, tax relief and schooling. "I knew what I was signing up for. I could go to some not-very-nice place and get killed - I did realise that. I don't necessarily say we should be treated better, but it would be nice to be treated around the same kind of level.
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. "You know, when you're saying that a lot of us don't even get paid as much as a traffic warden, I do, in my opinion, think their job is quite a bit easier than ours."
"A private on their first operation will receive a minimum of £16,227, plus a 2,320 tax-free operational allowance." The Royal British Legion, a charity which supports current and ex-service people, welcomed Sir Richard's comments.
A spokesman said: "The Legion has long taken the view that an increased financial commitment to the human and welfare costs of national defence are fundamental to honouring the nation's covenant with its armed forces."
Improvements were being made, he added, but greater efforts were urgently needed, particularly over soldiers' welfare and accommodation.
Everyone always wants a pay rise. But soldiers really do need to feel appreciated Ex-Army captain Alastair Galloway For Queen, country and low pay? The chairman of the defence select committee, James Arbuthnot, also said he agreed with Sir Richard.
He told BBC Radio 4's World at One the general had posed a straightforward question: "Are we giving the defence of this country - and are we giving the men and women who risk everything, their lives and everything for us - enough priority?
"And he has come to the conclusion - and I have come to the conclusion - that we have not. We need to give them more priority."
However, defence minister Derek Twigg told BBC News the comparison with traffic wardens was not fair, and troops were not doing too badly.
"Well if you look at the full package for an 18-year-old solider going out to Afghanistan, it comes out at something - with the allowances and benefits they get including the pension contribution - of around £25,000, £26,000.
"We've already seen over the last two years an above-inflation pay rise; and we'll continue to press for the best possible pay rises for our armed forces.
"But we have an independent pay review body, we took on board fully what they recommended and I see no reason to change that."
£15,000 starting salary
The Ministry of Defence said pay was only one element of a soldier's salary, which included allowances for housing, food, tax relief and schooling.
HAVE YOUR SAY When I broke down my army pay by hour, it was below the minimum wage Rebecca, UKSend us your comments
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."
According to the NCP company, which manages parking spaces around the country, the starting salary for a traffic warden is about £17,000 in London. Outside London, the starting salary is about £15,000.