MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE
LOCATIONS
24 Jun 08. Under Secretary of State for Defence opened brand new Army accommodation in Aldershot. The first single living accommodation to be built in Aldershot under Project Allenby/Connaught, the Government’s largest estates PFI, was officially opened by Under Secretary of State for Defence Derek
Twigg, on Thursday 26 June. Aldershot, once condemned as having some of the poorest military accommodation in Europe, can now boast gold standard living and
catering facilities for its soldiers returning from operational deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. The six new buildings will provide modern, high quality accommodation for 216 soldiers from 27 Transport Regiment. 4, 8 and 16 occupant dormitories have been replaced with single rooms with en-suite facilities.
JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
22 Jun 08. Plea over aircraft carrier deal. Scottish MPs are expected to urge the Ministry of Defence to sign a contract for two new aircraft carriers as soon as possible. There have been delays over the past two years in finalising the £4bn deal for the vessels, which would be partly built on the Clyde. The call to end uncertainty comes on the day members of the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee are due in Govan. They will publish a report later on the state of the UK’s defence sector. It is believed that thousands of Scottish jobs are reliant on the defence industry. A month ago the MoD confirmed it intended to go ahead with the building of the aircraft carriers, which will be fully assembled at Rosyth. (Source: BBC)
18 Jun 08. François Lureau announced June 18 his departure as chief executive of the Délégation Générale pour l’Armement (DGA) procurement office at the Eurosatory trade show. The post of DGA head is seen as the second-most important after that of the defense minister. Asked about his personal plans in the coming weeks, Lureau told a press conference that now was the right time to leave the DGA, as the government moves from a period of reflection to realization of its future defense strategy. (Source: Defense News)
PERSONNEL
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
Jun 08. Pay Review: Senior Salaries from 1 Apr 08. The Review Body on Senior Salaries published (18 Jun 08) its 2008 Report, together with an apology for late publication. The Government has accepted the Review Body’s recommendations, which include increases for two, three and four star Officers. The new rates are shown on page 3, together with the previously published rates for more junior ranks. Two and three star Officers are now given an element of X-Factor in addition to their basic salary: £1,364 should be added to the rates on page 3 for these Officers. The rates for Brigadiers and all lower ranks include the X-Factor (which is defined as an “addition to pay that recognises the relative disadvantage of conditions of service experienced by members of the Armed Forces compared to those in the civilian sector”).
Comment: The Review Body’s Report (Number 65, published as Command 7388 for £18:55) should be read in conjunction with ‘Armed Forces Pay’ which was published as Command 7315 on 7 Feb 08. ‘Senior Salaries’ only covers the 137 most senior Officers (93 two star, 32 three star and 12 four star). The Report reflects a considerable amount of discontent among the senior ranks. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0825, 23 June 08)
09 Jun 08. Armed Forces: Nationality Criteria. The Armed Forces’ Minister clarified (9 Jun 08) the nationality eligibility rules for joining the UK Armed Forces. To be accepted, an applicant “must have been at all times since birth a British or Commonwealth citizen or a Republic of Ireland national”. The “since birth” criterion may be waived “in exceptional circumstances”.
Comment: The last review of nationality criteria concluded that European Union citizens would not be allowed to become members of the UK Armed Forces. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0825, 23 June 08)
25 Jun