MP ATTACKS GOVERNMENT OVER CUTS IN GULF

Hugh has attacked the Government over its admission that servicemen in the Gulf will suffer pay cuts.

A further attack on the government over pay cuts for forces deployed to the Gulf has been made by Hugh Robertson, who was Adjutant of a main battle tank regiment during the last Gulf War.

The attack, supported by both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in a House of Commons motion tabled by Mr Robertson, comes as 10,400 members of the armed forces face cuts of between 20% and 35% in their Local Overseas Allowance after 17 days deployment to the Gulf.

Hugh Robertson said: "I raised this issue at Prime Minister's Questions after the Ministry of Defence confirmed the details in a Parliamentary Written Answer.

"It is utterly disgraceful that the Ministry of Defence should cut the pay of servicemen and women deployed to the Gulf at a time of great distress and worry for them and their families.

"The Ministry of Defence must change its policy.

"The motion tabled by Hugh states:

hat this House recognises that 10,400 members of the armed forces deployed to the Gulf are in receipt of local overseas allowance; deplores the Ministry of Defence's decision to remove 20% of that allowance for single and married unaccompanied personnel after the first 17 days of any deployment and 35% of that allowance for married accompanied personnel if their spouse leaves their permanent duty station for more than 17 days; and urges the Ministry of Defence to ensure that no member of the armed forces loses out financially through service in the Gulf.