Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Armed Forces Personnel

Monday 15 March 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Defence regularly monitors service personnel satisfaction levels for accommodation and pay via the armed forces continuous attitude survey.
  • No responsibility for the Prime Minister's advisers, but pay is one of the reasons people stay in the military.
  • The integrated review will address the armed forces and their satisfaction as a strategic priority.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alan Brown SNP
Defence
Context

Defence monitors service personnel satisfaction levels through the Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey, covering housing and salaries.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the level of satisfaction among armed forces personnel with military (a) housing and (b) salaries?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

Defence regularly monitors several metrics to gauge service personnel satisfaction levels, including for accommodation and pay, via the armed forces continuous attitude survey.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assessment figures or details on housing and salaries not provided

How: No Concrete Data Was Given

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Q2 Alan Brown SNP
Defence Employment
Context

Army personnel have contributed significantly in the fight against the pandemic but face a pay freeze, impacting retention. Government studies indicate low pay is one factor causing people to leave.

Question

Why was Dominic Cummings awarded a huge pay rise while armed forces personnel are not deemed worthy of a raise despite their significant contributions during the COVID-19 crisis?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

No; I do not have responsibility for the Prime Minister's advisers, clearly. On satisfaction around pay, I am clear that pay is one of the reasons that people stay in the military. If the hon. Member looks forward to the integrated review, we will be looking to announce a direction of travel on this matter in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No explanation for Cummings' pay rise and no specific commitment regarding future actions

How: Deflected Responsibility, Hedged On Specifics

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Q3 Stewart McDonald SNP
Defence Taxation
Context

Four in ten serving personnel do not believe their pay reflects the work they do, indicating significant dissatisfaction.

Question

Why does only four in ten serving personnel think that the pay they receive reflects the work they do?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

The crushing irony of our people who work in Scotland having to pay more in tax and therefore take home less pay and the hon. Gentleman raising this point is not lost on those who serve. Pay is a one of a number of factors that people speak about when the armed forces continuous attitude survey comes through. It is by no means the primary factor. We are constantly reviewing it and I am comfortable that we offer a world-class package to our people.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address why pay does not reflect work done

How: Deflected Onto Tax Differences, Hedged On Specific Factors

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Q4 Stewart McDonald SNP
Defence
Context

The integrated review is expected to address issues of personnel satisfaction, particularly concerning pay freezes.

Question

When the integrated review is published tomorrow, will it contain something—anything at all—to reverse the trend on satisfaction given everything the armed forces have done during the pandemic?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

Let me be clear: this will be the first strategic review to have a specific address to our people. They are our finest asset. They are rewarded not only financially but through the choice of career on offer to them. I encourage the hon. Gentleman to read that when it comes out and I am more than happy to have a conversation with him after that.

Not addressed: Did not confirm if review includes measures for satisfaction or apology for pay freeze

How: Changed Subject, Encouraged Future Discussion

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