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| MoD bonuses attacked by families | MoD bonuses attacked by families |
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| Bonuses worth over £47m paid this year to Ministry of Defence civil servants have been criticised by the families of some soldiers killed in Afghanistan. | Bonuses worth over £47m paid this year to Ministry of Defence civil servants have been criticised by the families of some soldiers killed in Afghanistan. |
| Defence minister Kevan Jones revealed the figure in a written reply to a Tory parliamentary question. | Defence minister Kevan Jones revealed the figure in a written reply to a Tory parliamentary question. |
| Hazel Hunt, whose Army private son died in August, said the performance-related bonuses were "obscene". | Hazel Hunt, whose Army private son died in August, said the performance-related bonuses were "obscene". |
| But Home Secretary Alan Johnson told GMTV that MoD civilians did "difficult and sometimes dangerous" jobs. | |
| The MoD says 50,000 staff got bonuses under previously arranged pay deals, averaging less than £1,000 each. | The MoD says 50,000 staff got bonuses under previously arranged pay deals, averaging less than £1,000 each. |
| But the Conservatives said troops serving in Afghanistan would be angry to learn of the payments. | But the Conservatives said troops serving in Afghanistan would be angry to learn of the payments. |
| BBC correspondent Helen Fawkes said the figures had been revealed at a sensitive time for the MoD, with casualties mounting in Afghanistan. | BBC correspondent Helen Fawkes said the figures had been revealed at a sensitive time for the MoD, with casualties mounting in Afghanistan. |
| 'Out of balance' | 'Out of balance' |
| Ms Hunt, whose 21-year-old son Richard was killed in a blast while on vehicle patrol, said the MoD was "not delivering". | Ms Hunt, whose 21-year-old son Richard was killed in a blast while on vehicle patrol, said the MoD was "not delivering". |
| "It is obscene they have got such bonuses while our troops are being short changed; not only in equipment but also in the fact that my son was barely on £17,000 a year," she added. | "It is obscene they have got such bonuses while our troops are being short changed; not only in equipment but also in the fact that my son was barely on £17,000 a year," she added. |
| The lowest-paid Army privates earn £16,681 a year, with a six-month tax-free operational allowance of £2,380 if they are posted to Afghanistan. | The lowest-paid Army privates earn £16,681 a year, with a six-month tax-free operational allowance of £2,380 if they are posted to Afghanistan. |
| An MoD spokesman said: "These pay awards are met from within salary budget and have no impact on the operational or equipment budget." | An MoD spokesman said: "These pay awards are met from within salary budget and have no impact on the operational or equipment budget." |
| The spokesman added that the sum, paid between April and October, was not expected to increase significantly before the end of the financial year. | The spokesman added that the sum, paid between April and October, was not expected to increase significantly before the end of the financial year. |
| Many in the armed forces will be aghast that bonuses are being paid on the basis of 'outstanding performance' Liam FoxShadow defence secretary | Many in the armed forces will be aghast that bonuses are being paid on the basis of 'outstanding performance' Liam FoxShadow defence secretary |
| The MoD employs 85,000 civil servants - one for every two active armed forces personnel. Its figures showed a total of £287,809,049 had been paid out in bonuses since 2003 - the year Britain went to war in Iraq. | The MoD employs 85,000 civil servants - one for every two active armed forces personnel. Its figures showed a total of £287,809,049 had been paid out in bonuses since 2003 - the year Britain went to war in Iraq. |
| Shadow defence secretary Dr Liam Fox, who requested the figures, told the Daily Telegraph: "Many in the armed forces will be aghast that bonuses are being paid on the basis of 'outstanding performance'. | Shadow defence secretary Dr Liam Fox, who requested the figures, told the Daily Telegraph: "Many in the armed forces will be aghast that bonuses are being paid on the basis of 'outstanding performance'. |
| "This will only increase the view that the armed forces and the MoD administration are hugely out of balance." | "This will only increase the view that the armed forces and the MoD administration are hugely out of balance." |
| Mr Johnson said he "instinctively" wanted as much funding as possible to reach service personnel. | |
| He added: "Let's be clear - our priority always has to be the soldiers at the front line for equipment, for pay, for conditions." | |
| But he said civil servants also had to go "into the front line" - for instance, to develop techniques to protect troops from improvised bombs. | |
| "When they do that my understanding is they work 17, 18 hours in Afghanistan," he added. | |
| "They don't get overtime for that - they get a bonus to compensate." | |
| In recent months, a leaked government report criticised the MoD's systems for buying equipment. Auditors have also criticised the department for wasting millions of pounds and having a payroll system that was inefficient and open to fraud. | In recent months, a leaked government report criticised the MoD's systems for buying equipment. Auditors have also criticised the department for wasting millions of pounds and having a payroll system that was inefficient and open to fraud. |
| Meanwhile, separate Commons committees have said helicopter shortages were undermining operations in Afghanistan and "inadequate" planning had led to a shortage of spare parts for vehicles and aircraft. | Meanwhile, separate Commons committees have said helicopter shortages were undermining operations in Afghanistan and "inadequate" planning had led to a shortage of spare parts for vehicles and aircraft. |
| Ministers have insisted the procurement process has improved and that the Army has sufficient helicopters but that more will be sent to bolster operations. | Ministers have insisted the procurement process has improved and that the Army has sufficient helicopters but that more will be sent to bolster operations. |
| What do you think of these bonuses? Have you served in Afghanistan, or do you have family who are serving? Are you an MoD employee? Send us your comments. | What do you think of these bonuses? Have you served in Afghanistan, or do you have family who are serving? Are you an MoD employee? Send us your comments. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |