Top armed forces staff given 3.2%

The top 150 officers in the armed forces yesterday received an average pay rise of 3.2 per cent from the Senior Salaries Review Body.

The increase is more than that awarded to nurses, teachers, and the rest of the forces, who were given an average rise of 2.6 per cent by the separate Armed Forces Pay Review Body. The rises will be paid from 1 April this year.

Best off under the new pay award are vice-admirals, lieutenant generals and air marshals, whose pay rises by 3.85 per cent from £68,868 to £71,000. The pay of a full admiral, general or air chief marshal rises from £95,050 to £97,430.

Increasing the pay of judges by 2.5 per cent takes the pay of the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Taylor of Gosforth, to £124,138. The Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay of Clashfern moves up to £126,138. District judges will now be paid £59,327.