E m e r g i n g I s s u e s
New Advice from the FSA
M
oneymadeclear is a website from
the UK’s Consumer Financial Education Body, established by the Financial Services Authority. In areas of personal finance it offers impartial information and tools that can help individuals work out what’s right for them and promises ‘no selling, no jargon, just the facts’. The new section looks at mortgages for first time buyers and those looking to remortgage.
Two Year Pay Freeze for Personnel Earning Over 21K
T T
he MoD have confirmed that uniformed personnel earning over £21,000 pa will have their
pay frozen for two years. Te impact will be felt by three quarters of Service personnel. Andrew Robathan, Minister for Defence, Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, defended the position by reiterating the earlier announcement that the operational allowance was being doubled.
Human Rights DO NOT Apply on the Front Line
he Supreme Court has ruled that Service personnel on
‘the battlefield’ are not protected by the Human Rights Act. Last year, the Court of Appeal upheld a decision in the case of Private Jason Smith, who died of heatstroke in Iraq. It ruled the Human Rights act applied to all UK Service personnel including when they were on operational duty. This has now been overturned.
IN LAW A New Covenant
“ the schools you send your children to, I
www.raf-ff.org.uk
t’s time for us to rewrite the military covenant to make sure we are doing everything we can. Whether it’s
whether it’s the health care you expect, whether it’s the fact that there should be a decent military ward for anyone who gets injured. I want all these things refreshed and renewed and written down in a new military covenant that’s written into the law of the land.” So said the Prime Minister on appointment and the FF is contributing to development of the Covenant.
From Now On HIC Lines Will Close at 3pm
A “
s of 1 Jul 10 the telephone lines into the Housing Information
Offices (HICs) will close at 3pm each day. Tis is now a permanent arrangement.
Operational Allowance is Doubled
M
y Right Honourable Friend Te Prime
Minister has announced during his visit to Afghanistan the doubling of the Operational Allowance which we pay to our Armed Forces engaged in the most demanding areas of conflict. Te tax-free allowance will increase from £14.51 per day to £29.02 with effect from 6 May 2010. Tis will mean for a typical six-month tour payment increasing from £2,640 to £5,281.
SSAFA Ask You to Man your Teapots
S N
SAFA – Forces Help has launched its annual Big
Brew Up to take place 4-10 Oct. Whether it’s a Mad Hatter’s tea party, a cocktail party or a Big Breakfast Brew complete with sizzling bacon rolls they would like you to be involved.
Campaign Medal Qualification Extended
ew rules governing the qualification for medals have
been announced. The change of heart means that for Iraq and Afghanistan campaign medals instead of having to
Autumn 2010 7
serve 30 days continuously, it is now possible to accrue days to achieve an aggregate qualifying period of 45 days service. The changes will be backdated to the start of both operations.
From Sir John Chilcot
S
ir John Chilcot has written to all military
personnel who served in Iraq between 03 and 09 inviting them to contribute to the Iraq Inquiry at Tidworth on 14 Sep 10. He says,“We need to understand what went well and what could have been done better”.
Don’t Believe All You Read
T
he Chief of the Air Staff has issued a robust condemnation of media stories claiming to be ‘fact’ ahead of the outcome
of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). He said, “Articles will be more-or-less informed speculation or pure imagination. I can assure you that no decisions have been taken yet – and I would not expect any to be finalised until October”. Speaking on Friday 13 Aug 10, Dr Liam Fox MP said: “One of the elements that will not come out of the Defence Review is the abolition of one or any of the current Services that we have.”
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