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05/06/2008
More Pay For Soldiers, Demands Army Chief
The Head of the British Army has called for more pay for soldiers.
Sir Richard Dannatt made the appeal as he revealed a traffic warden may earn more than a new soldier.
Sir Richard's comments come after the publication of an Army briefing paper last month, which revealed that increasing numbers of soldiers are now close to the poverty line.
According to the report, growing numbers were leaving the service because they could not afford to bring up a family on Army wages.
Sir Richard has called for above inflation pay rises and more welfare benefit.
The report found that many soldiers were not eating properly because they had run out of money by the end of the month. However, this is being addressed by 'Hungry Soldier' schemes.
A revision of the money available to Unit Welfare Office's (UWO) has also been requested.
The Army chief said in a recent Afghanistan visit that "to make sure we have armed services that are populated by motivated and well-trained people" it is important "to look after their individual needs well enough".
He added that servicemen and women "put their lives on the line" and "it is very hard to put a price on that".
The report cited pay as the "number one issue of dissatisfaction for both soldiers and officers" and that it was a "significant factor in maintaining morale".
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said that in February a pay rise of 2.6% was announced for all servicemen and women.
A private on their first operation will received a minimum of £16.227 plus a £2.320 tax-free operational allowance.
Although pay may be an issue, Britain's Armed Forces have come joint second in a City & Guilds survey of 1,000 workers who were asked how satisfied they are with their current choice of employment.
Air Commodore Tim Winstanley, Director Training and Education within the MoD said: "What comes through very clearly is that they are proud of what they do, with 91% of our most recent survey indicating a belief that the UK Armed Forces are the best in the world."
(DS/JM)
Sir Richard Dannatt made the appeal as he revealed a traffic warden may earn more than a new soldier.
Sir Richard's comments come after the publication of an Army briefing paper last month, which revealed that increasing numbers of soldiers are now close to the poverty line.
According to the report, growing numbers were leaving the service because they could not afford to bring up a family on Army wages.
Sir Richard has called for above inflation pay rises and more welfare benefit.
The report found that many soldiers were not eating properly because they had run out of money by the end of the month. However, this is being addressed by 'Hungry Soldier' schemes.
A revision of the money available to Unit Welfare Office's (UWO) has also been requested.
The Army chief said in a recent Afghanistan visit that "to make sure we have armed services that are populated by motivated and well-trained people" it is important "to look after their individual needs well enough".
He added that servicemen and women "put their lives on the line" and "it is very hard to put a price on that".
The report cited pay as the "number one issue of dissatisfaction for both soldiers and officers" and that it was a "significant factor in maintaining morale".
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said that in February a pay rise of 2.6% was announced for all servicemen and women.
A private on their first operation will received a minimum of £16.227 plus a £2.320 tax-free operational allowance.
Although pay may be an issue, Britain's Armed Forces have come joint second in a City & Guilds survey of 1,000 workers who were asked how satisfied they are with their current choice of employment.
Air Commodore Tim Winstanley, Director Training and Education within the MoD said: "What comes through very clearly is that they are proud of what they do, with 91% of our most recent survey indicating a belief that the UK Armed Forces are the best in the world."
(DS/JM)
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