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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Armed forces are given pay rise | Armed forces are given pay rise |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Members of the armed forces will receive a 2.6% pay rise from April, the defence secretary has announced. | Members of the armed forces will receive a 2.6% pay rise from April, the defence secretary has announced. |
| Recommendations from the armed forces pay review body have been accepted in full by the government. | Recommendations from the armed forces pay review body have been accepted in full by the government. |
| Des Browne told MPs the rise was in line with inflation and the chief of the defence staff welcomed it. | |
| The adjustment to military pay, which reflects the conditions faced by the armed forces compared with civilians, known as the "X Factor", rises by 1%. | The adjustment to military pay, which reflects the conditions faced by the armed forces compared with civilians, known as the "X Factor", rises by 1%. |
| Specialist rates of pay, including flying pay, submarine pay, diving pay and hydrographic, will also increase by 2.6%. | Specialist rates of pay, including flying pay, submarine pay, diving pay and hydrographic, will also increase by 2.6%. |
| 'Outstanding contributions' | 'Outstanding contributions' |
| Nuclear submarine watchkeepers, army vehicle mechanics, Royal Artillery and RAF Regiment gunners and firefighters will also be offered extra incentives. | Nuclear submarine watchkeepers, army vehicle mechanics, Royal Artillery and RAF Regiment gunners and firefighters will also be offered extra incentives. |
| A new category of specialist pay is being created for bomb disposal experts. | A new category of specialist pay is being created for bomb disposal experts. |
| Speaking outside the Commons, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, chief of the defence staff, said: "This pay increase is good news for the armed forces at a time when their dedication, determination and courage continue to be tested. | |
| "It reflects the outstanding contributions our people and their families are making to the defence of our nation. | "It reflects the outstanding contributions our people and their families are making to the defence of our nation. |
| "It is also a tangible demonstration of the high regard in which our people are held by the government and the nation." | "It is also a tangible demonstration of the high regard in which our people are held by the government and the nation." |
| Junior defence minister Derek Twigg said: "This pay award recognises the tremendous contribution all our service personnel continue to make at home and overseas." | Junior defence minister Derek Twigg said: "This pay award recognises the tremendous contribution all our service personnel continue to make at home and overseas." |
| The pay award is greater than the settlements imposed on public sector workers and Gordon Brown has said he wants to keep awards below 2%. | The pay award is greater than the settlements imposed on public sector workers and Gordon Brown has said he wants to keep awards below 2%. |
| 'Lives on the line' | 'Lives on the line' |
| Downing Street said this pay award was for a different pay round than the controversial settlements imposed on other public sector workers for 2007-08. | Downing Street said this pay award was for a different pay round than the controversial settlements imposed on other public sector workers for 2007-08. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said: "The government continues to believe there needs to be discipline in relation to public sector pay and we need to set awards in line with the government's inflation target." | Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said: "The government continues to believe there needs to be discipline in relation to public sector pay and we need to set awards in line with the government's inflation target." |
| Decisions have to be taken year by year, sector by sector, he said. | Decisions have to be taken year by year, sector by sector, he said. |
| He added decisions on pay in relation to public sector workers for this year have not yet been made. | He added decisions on pay in relation to public sector workers for this year have not yet been made. |
| BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said the award was in recognition of the extraordinary work being done by the armed forces in Afghanistan in Iraq. | BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said the award was in recognition of the extraordinary work being done by the armed forces in Afghanistan in Iraq. |
| "There is also recognition that those with their lives on the line, even with this pay increase, are only going to be earning between £16,000 and £25,000," she said. | "There is also recognition that those with their lives on the line, even with this pay increase, are only going to be earning between £16,000 and £25,000," she said. |
| "I think there will be general support for this increase although it is larger than for some in the public sector." | "I think there will be general support for this increase although it is larger than for some in the public sector." |