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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Soldiers to get 'tax bill' bonus | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| UK forces serving in Afghanistan and Iraq are to receive cash bonuses to pay off their tax bill, Defence Secretary Des Browne is set to announce. | UK forces serving in Afghanistan and Iraq are to receive cash bonuses to pay off their tax bill, Defence Secretary Des Browne is set to announce. |
| BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson says it follows a campaign to stop soldiers paying tax on their earnings - something that American GIs do not do. | BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson says it follows a campaign to stop soldiers paying tax on their earnings - something that American GIs do not do. |
| Tony Blair said: "It's something that's obviously important because of the work that the troops are doing." | Tony Blair said: "It's something that's obviously important because of the work that the troops are doing." |
| Mr Browne is set to make the announcement later in the Commons. | Mr Browne is set to make the announcement later in the Commons. |
| 'Long overdue' | 'Long overdue' |
| The prime minister told the BBC the payment was in recognition of the fact that British troops were going through a completely different experience to soldiers on the battlefield years ago. | The prime minister told the BBC the payment was in recognition of the fact that British troops were going through a completely different experience to soldiers on the battlefield years ago. |
| The amount will be paid to anyone serving in what is called a hazardous operational area, like Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans. That currently covers around 15,000 serving troops. | |
| I think everybody will be extremely pleased General Patrick Cordingley | I think everybody will be extremely pleased General Patrick Cordingley |
| General Patrick Cordingley, who commanded the desert rats in the first Gulf War against Iraq, says the decision is long overdue. | General Patrick Cordingley, who commanded the desert rats in the first Gulf War against Iraq, says the decision is long overdue. |
| "I think everybody will be extremely pleased," he said. | "I think everybody will be extremely pleased," he said. |
| "In the past I've always thought that this tax business when you're abroad on active service doesn't seem to make any sense. | "In the past I've always thought that this tax business when you're abroad on active service doesn't seem to make any sense. |
| "And in some instances they actually lose various allowances when they go to another theatre. | "And in some instances they actually lose various allowances when they go to another theatre. |
| "For instance if they get overseas allowance for being in Germany they lose half of that because they're no longer in Germany. | "For instance if they get overseas allowance for being in Germany they lose half of that because they're no longer in Germany. |
| "So in fact soldiers, particularly in the first Gulf War, lost money for going to fight for their country." | "So in fact soldiers, particularly in the first Gulf War, lost money for going to fight for their country." |
| Travel expenses | |
| Mr Blair ordered a review of the complete support package available to armed forces personnel several weeks ago. | |
| It has already emerged that British troops wounded while fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq will receive an extra allowance of £10 a day while they are in overseas' hospitals. | |
| At-sea bonuses and separation allowances will also be extended to cover servicemen and women who are in hospital. | |
| Troops are also set to benefit from additional travel expenses for families visiting them in hospital, free delivering of postal parcels over the Christmas period and improved access to broadband internet connections. | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron used his party conference speech to stress that he believed more should be done for servicemen and women who pay income tax while fighting overseas. |