asked the Minister for Defence if there have been any changes to the information supplied in reply to Parliamentary Question 273 of 15 April 1980 in respect of pay or the cost of discharge by purchase, if so, if he will give details; when the various rates were set; when they were last reveiwed; and if they will be reviewed in the light of the proposed National Understanding.
Written Answers . - Defence Forces Remuneration .
369.
: Details of changes in the rates of pay and allowances furnished in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 273 on the 15 April 1980, are as follows:
(a) Officers' regimental rates of pay
The following revised rates are now payable:
Commandant (Lieutenant-Commander, Naval Service) £8,395, £8,588, £8,781, £8,973, £9,166, £9,275; Lieutenant-Colonel (Commander, Naval Service) £9,648, £10,012, £10,376, £10,740, £11,103, £11,467; Colonel (Captain, Naval Service) £12,430, £12,965, £13,500, £14,035, £14,570; Brigadier-General (Commodore, Naval Service) £15,533; Major-General £16,496; Lieutenant-General (Chief of Staff) £20,338.
The rates for the ranks of commandant, brigadier-general, major-general and lieutenant-general (Chief of Staff) are effective from 1 March 1980. The rates for the ranks of lieutenant-colonel and colonel are effective from 26 June 1980.
(b) Annual rates of flying pay payable to officers of the Air Corps
With effect from 1 March 1980, the rate of flying pay payable to a pilot officer on promotion to the rank of commandant has been increased from £1,077 to £1,166, i.e. to the rate applicable to a junior officer after six years' service as a qualified pilot.
(c) Discharge by purchase—Men of the Permanent Defence Force
In order to cater for apprentices in the Army and Air Corps Apprentice Schools and trainees in the Army School of Music who have more than three years' service but who have not been admitted to the technician class, the following charges for discharge by purchase in their cases were introduced with effect from 2 September 1980: (i) three to four years' service, £480; (ii) more than four years' service, £600.
If the proposed Second National Understanding for Economic and Social Development is ratified, basic pay, additional pay and allowances (other than allowances payable in respect of duties of a security nature) will be revised with effect from 1 October 1980 in accordance with the terms of the first phase of the Agreement on Pay Policy provided for in the draft understanding.
With a view to stimulating recruiting to the Permanent Defence Force and to encouraging greater numbers of serving soldiers to extend their service, extension of service gratuities and allowances payable in respect of duties of a security nature are currently under review.