Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living: Armed Forces Personnel

Monday 8 January 2024 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Ministry of Defence has introduced measures to support armed forces personnel with the cost of living, including capping accommodation charges and increasing pay.
  • The Ministry of Defence has implemented a 9.7% pay increase for the lowest ranks, accepted in full from the Armed Forces Pay Review Body.
  • The Minister acknowledged the need to consider additional financial burdens on special forces members but did not specify explicit measures.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mary Foy Lab City of Durham
NHS Defence Economy
Context

The question arises from constituents facing financial difficulties due to domestic assignments, including reports of individuals turning to food banks. The context includes a constituent who is out of pocket by thousands of pounds.

Question

What steps are being taken to support armed forces personnel with the cost of living? A constituent—a serving officer—finds himself thousands of pounds out of pocket, and others report relying on food banks due to financial strain from domestic assignments. What discussions are taking place to expand measures?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

The Ministry of Defence has introduced measures such as capping subsidised accommodation charges at 1%, freezing daily food charges, increasing travelling allowances by 7%, providing wraparound childcare to families, and implementing a significant pay increase of 9.7% for the lowest ranks.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not address the specific ask about expanding measures beyond current initiatives.

How: Cost Of Living Crisis Has Affected All Constituents, Recognised Pressures On The Lowest Paid

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Q2 Mary Foy Lab City of Durham
Defence Economy
Context

A constituent serving as an officer is financially strained, reportedly turning to food banks due to the cost of domestic assignments.

Question

What discussions are taking place to expand measures addressing financial burdens on service personnel during the cost of living crisis?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

The Ministry of Defence has introduced a 9.7% pay increase, accepted in full from the Armed Forces Pay Review Body recommendation, which is unique across the public sector for the last year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address expanding measures to alleviate financial burdens beyond current initiatives.

How: 9.7% Uplift In Pay

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Q3 Jesse Norman Con Hereford and South Herefordshire
Defence Economy
Context

The question highlights the additional burdens faced by special forces members both in families and in the field, seeking support.

Question

Will the Minister consider the additional financial burdens on special forces members when thinking about ways to ameliorate their living circumstances?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

The special forces are always at the forefront of our minds, but we never talk about them explicitly.

Not addressed: Did not address considerations for special measures specifically for special forces members.

How: Never Talk About Them

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