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12/11/2009
Military Families' Anger Over MoD Bonuses
The news that civil servants working for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have received bonuses worth more than £47 million this year has been greeted with anger by the relatives of some soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
The MoD said that the bonuses, which were paid to around 50,000 staff, averaged at less than £1,000.
A spokesperson said: "These pay awards are met from within salary budget and have no impact on the operational or equipment budget."
Speaking to GMTV, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said that the bonuses were paid in recognition of the "difficult and sometimes dangerous jobs" that civilian staff did, saying that some staff had to work on the front line, for example, developing techniques to help protect troops from improvised explosive devices.
Mr Johnson added that the staff were not paid over-time and were instead given a bonus as compensation.
However, Hazel Hunt, whose son Private Richard Hunt was killed in an explosion in Helmand Province in August, described the payments as "obscene".
The Conservatives also expressed anger about the payments. Shadow Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox told the Daily Telegraph that many in the armed forces would be "aghast" to hear about the bonuses.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has now said that he will examine the bonuses paid to MoD staff.
He said that some of those who had received bonuses had been "working out in the field", but stressed that the government wanted to send "a message of support" to the armed forces.
The lowest-paid Army privates earn £16,681 a year, within a six-month tax-free operational allowance of £2,380 if they are posted to Afghanistan.
(KMcA/BMcC)
The MoD said that the bonuses, which were paid to around 50,000 staff, averaged at less than £1,000.
A spokesperson said: "These pay awards are met from within salary budget and have no impact on the operational or equipment budget."
Speaking to GMTV, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said that the bonuses were paid in recognition of the "difficult and sometimes dangerous jobs" that civilian staff did, saying that some staff had to work on the front line, for example, developing techniques to help protect troops from improvised explosive devices.
Mr Johnson added that the staff were not paid over-time and were instead given a bonus as compensation.
However, Hazel Hunt, whose son Private Richard Hunt was killed in an explosion in Helmand Province in August, described the payments as "obscene".
The Conservatives also expressed anger about the payments. Shadow Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox told the Daily Telegraph that many in the armed forces would be "aghast" to hear about the bonuses.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has now said that he will examine the bonuses paid to MoD staff.
He said that some of those who had received bonuses had been "working out in the field", but stressed that the government wanted to send "a message of support" to the armed forces.
The lowest-paid Army privates earn £16,681 a year, within a six-month tax-free operational allowance of £2,380 if they are posted to Afghanistan.
(KMcA/BMcC)
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