Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Military Personnel: Pay

Monday 16 March 2026 · 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 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government delivered the biggest pay increase for military forces in two decades.
  • Wraparound childcare has been extended to personnel serving overseas.
  • A "get home" allowance has been introduced for serving personnel at Christmas.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Luke Murphy Lab Basingstoke
Defence
Context

Morale in the military had fallen to record lows, prompting a need for renewed commitment.

Question

What steps is he taking to increase pay for military personnel? Military morale had dropped significantly, leading to promises of renewal. The questioner seeks specific actions taken by the government to improve this situation.

Answer from John Healey

At the election, military morale had fallen to record lows, and we promised, as a new Government, to renew the nation's commitment to those who serve. That is what we are doing. We have delivered the biggest forces pay increase for two decades, and landmark investment to buy back and renew nearly 40,000 military family homes. Wraparound childcare has been extended for those serving overseas.

Answered
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Q2 Luke Murphy Lab Basingstoke
Defence
Context

The questioner participated in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, spending time with Royal Marines and other forces personnel in Norway. This highlighted the challenges faced by personnel on temporary duty.

Question

What assessment has he made of the overseas allowance for personnel on temporary duty, like those in the Arctic? During his recent visit to the High North, the questioner witnessed the sacrifices made by military personnel and the need for better support during such deployments.

Answer from John Healey

Part of our commitment to renewing the contract with those who serve has involved the extension of wraparound childcare to those serving overseas. This is part of raising the quality of experience and addressing recruitment and retention issues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific assessment or changes related to the overseas allowance were provided, focusing instead on childcare support for personnel abroad.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Defence Northern Ireland
Context

Personnel and families from Northern Ireland face additional costs when stationed on the mainland, affecting their ability to maintain family connections.

Question

What has been done to ensure that personnel from Northern Ireland are not disadvantaged due to distance from home? Extra costs for meeting up with family or returning home during leave have led to concerns about financial burdens and family time.

Answer from John Healey

The “get home” allowance has been introduced for serving personnel at Christmas. Additionally, the highest pay increase in 20 years has been delivered, with more than 10% over two years to make service life more affordable and address living wage concerns.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific measures addressing extra costs for family visits or ensuring proper family time were provided.

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