Defence in the UK
Philip Dunne raises his concerns on the impact on armed forces retention and recruitment of "shambolic" delay in pay award annoucement.
Mr. Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con): My right hon. and learned Friend is making a typically powerful speech. On the subject of recruitment and retention in both the regular Army and the Territorial Army, does he not think that it is an absolute disgrace that the Government are within a week of implementing a new pay round, and none of our professional men and women in the services have any idea what pay they will be entitled to from Wednesday of next week? When he was Secretary of State for Defence, would he have allowed such a shambolic situation?
Sir Malcolm Rifkind: I would certainly have tried to prevent it, but whether the Treasury would have allowed me to do so is the question that must be addressed. I have not the slightest doubt that the Ministry of Defence could make the announcement today if it were permitted to do so. Another part of Government is creating the problem, and it is a disgrace. My hon. Friend is right to refer to it.
