Forces Pay Could Rise

Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood says Britain's servicemen and women need to be given a pay rise in order to protect recruitment.

The former Army Captain is reported to have told The Times newspaper that Britain's Armed Forces deserve a pay rise.

The independent body that advises the Government on pay for members of the Armed Forces has provided its recommendations for the 2018-2019 pay round.

The MoD said an announcement would be made in due course, but The Times reports the body has recommended an increase of about 3 per cent.

The Government announced in September that it was lifting the 1 per cent public sector pay cap, which has been in place since 2010. However, an announcement on any changes in armed forces pay was delayed.

Mr Ellwood, a former Army captain, told The Times that while people do not join the armed forces "for the money as such", pay must not become a reason "as to why they would be deterred from it".

"There needs to be a pay rise," he said.

"We have still got to conclude the defence modernisation programme but you would need to move north of 2.5 per cent to make any of this work, if you want to retain the same defence posture given the dangers, the complexities of the world that we face."

Mr Ellwood has previously suggested the armed forces should receive funding on a par with the NHS.