Written question asked by Wendy Morton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 June 2026. It was answered by Calvin Bailey (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
Armed Forces: Pay
- Question
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 3.6 per cent Armed Forces pay award on recruitment and retention; and what assessment he has made of whether military pay has kept pace with increases in housing and living costs over the last five years.
- Answer
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Our people are the heart of our defence. I am deeply grateful to our UK Service personnel, along with their families, who make extraordinary sacrifices to keep our nation secure at home and strong abroad 24/7. This Government is proud of their professionalism and dedication and has accepted the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body’s recommendations in full.
Our people serve with great professionalism, dedication and courage. The annual pay award is an important part of how military service is recognised: pay, accommodation, family support and welfare are all part of the support that helps ensure that our people are ready for whatever we ask of them. We will continue to work to make sure that this meets the needs of our people.
For 2026-27, Armed Forces personnel received an above-inflation pay rise of 3.6%, demonstrating the government’s commitment to those that serve as demands on defence and Armed Forces personnel increase. This is the third consecutive year that Armed Forces personnel have received an above-inflation pay rise and means most personnel have received a cumulative pay award of 14.1% since April 2024.
The 2026 award builds on landmark action to buy back and renew 36,000 military family homes, a new childcare scheme saving eligible forces families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland up to £6,000 per year per child by reimbursing early years childcare costs, and the establishment of the first ever independent Armed Forces Commissioner with powers to investigate issues raised directly by personnel and their families.
Latest personnel figures show early signs that these measures are starting to make a real difference in positively affecting recruitment and retention with the total UK Armed Forces increasing over the past year. More people are now joining than leaving, meaning numbers are now increasing for the first time in several years, while in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, fewer personnel are choosing to leave. Together, this points to clear progress in strengthening both recruitment and retention across the Armed Forces.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 10142
- Session
- 2026-27
- Related items
- Subjects
- Armed forces Pay Recruitment Labour turnover
- Link
- View this Written question on www.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2026-07-30 16:38:00 +0100
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- http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/commons/2026-27/10142
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