Abolish the AFPRB and give the military a truly independent body to award pay.

The Armed Forces Pay Review Board is referred to by HMG as an independent body. However, as their ToRs require them to take account of set budgets, so they aren't! The Military, giving their lives, for HMG to commit to war deserve better. MPs have an independent body, the Military deserve the same!

The AFPRB previously recommend a 0% pay award for the two years when the government froze public sector pay, this exposes the lack of independence that they have. HMG have announced that there is a 4 year 1% restriction, and no doubt this will be the next 4 recommendations from the AFPRB (or less). 9 years of ‘real terms’ pay cuts for the Armed Forces! In 2015 an OR3 was £3,464.58 worse off than in 2010 in real terms. A OR6 £4,176.13 worse off, and an OF2 is £5,028.96 worse off in real terms.

The role of the AFPRB is to provide advice to the Government on the pay and charges for military personnel to ensure the Armed Forces are able to recruit, retain and motivate suitably able and qualified people. In doing so it is required to take into consideration the Government’s policies on the public services, inflation targets and the funds available to the Ministry of Defence (MOD). However, the AFPRB’s recommendations are not bound by Government advice in these areas.

The AFPRB’s annual report and recommendations are evidence-based. During the spring and early summer the AFPRB conducts an extensive visit programme to Armed Forces establishments both in the UK and overseas, including operational theatres and ships, in order to gather first-hand evidence from the workforce. During these visits, AFPRB Members speak with Service Personnel and their families, eat in Service dining facilities and view both Service Family and Single Living Accommodation. Following the visits they receive formal written evidence from the MOD and also hear oral evidence from the Secretary of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence People and single-Service Principal Personnel Officers, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and the Service Families Federations. Additionally, the AFPRB also commission its own analysis and research, including on pay comparability of the Armed Forces within the wider UK economy.

Following due consideration of all the evidence, the AFPRB submits its recommendations on Armed Forces’ pay and charges to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence. Where sufficient evidence exists, the AFPRB makes recommendations for increases beyond the financial limits set by the Government, for example in 2013 when the AFPRB recommended, and the Government accepted, a 0.5 per cent increase to X-Factor at a time of public sector pay restraint.