Armed Forces Pay Review Body 2013 Report

Lord Hammond of Runnymede Excerpts

Thursday 14th March 2013 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond)]

The 2013 report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) has now been published. I wish to express my thanks to the chairman and members of the review body for their report.

In line with the Government’s 2011 autumn statement, which announced that public sector pay awards will average 1% for the two years following the public sector pay freeze, the AFPRB has recommended an increase of 1% to base military salaries for 2013-14. In addition, the AFPRB has recommended an increase to X-factor of 0.5% and a 1% increase in specialist pay and compensatory allowances. The AFPRB has also recommended an increase to accommodation charges, but a reduction to food charges, together with a number of targeted measures, including a new commitment bonus for certain categories of personnel joining the Territorial Army.

The AFPRB’s recommendations are to be accepted in full, except for the recommendation to increase X-factor, which would result in costs for which the Department has not currently budgeted. This recommendation is therefore under consideration as part of a wider review of departmental expenditure and I will inform the House of the result in due course. All other recommendations will become effective from 1 April 2013, except where the AFPRB report indicates otherwise.

Copies of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body report are available in the Vote Office.