Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Cunningham Excerpts

Monday 5th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

Yes, I can.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

12. What assessment he has made of the effect of the delayed pay increase on retention in the armed forces.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Tobias Ellwood)]

Pay rates are recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body. We look forward to receiving its next set of recommendations later in the spring. We have made clear to all personnel that any award, once announced, will be backdated to 1 April 2018.

[Mr Cunningham]

Is the Minister actually saying that the pay increase for the armed forces has been delayed, and if so, when does he intend to implement it?

[Mr Ellwood]

As I say, we are waiting for the report to come through. It is unfortunate that we have had to introduce this pay restraint, but we should not lose sight of why pay restraint was introduced in the first place. It was because the previous Government were living beyond their means. [Interruption.] Only with the return to a strong economy can we responsibly increase public sector pay.