Tri-Service

New UK Arms Procurement Chief Given £535,000 Pay Deal

The new chief of the Ministry of Defence's equipment programme is to be rewarded with a £285,000 salary and £250,000 performance-related annual bonus, making him the highest-paid Whitehall civil servant.

His basic salary is a 25 per cent increase on his predecessor's, Bernard Gray, and over 15 times that of a regular soldier's £17,945 wage.

Tony Douglas is the latest in a new line of senior business figures lured into the public sector with the promise of private sector levels of pay.

Commenting on his new role, Mr Douglas said: "I am absolutely delighted to have the privilege of serving my country and supporting Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.

"Delivering their requirements with the utmost service quality and providing best value to the taxpayer is a responsibility that I take with real pride."

But Andy Silvester, campaign director at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail:

"If there isn’t a dramatic improvement, taxpayers will be rightly furious at the size of this pay packet. As in every part of the public sector, his performance in the job must be open to public scrutiny, and any bonuses awarded must be truly earned."

Official figures revealed in 2014 showed that over 85 MoD staff earn more than £100,000 per year.

Cover Photo Crown Copyright/ Harland Quarrington/ 2013