It's not just troops stationed in London that were in receipt of RRA, it also included the several thousand personnel who work in MB, OWOB, DSO and SGC, plus a host of other government departments. Added to this is the requirement to pay for your oyster card to get from the absement squat in Croyden (the days of newbies getting riverside apartments in Vauxhall or Canary Wharf are sadly over). And apart from Uniform Wednesday, working in London inevitiably means having to obtain several decent suits, a host of decent shirts and ties, several pairs of good shoes, overcoat...it all adds up. It is a mean and punitive reduction in our 'package' and coupled with the commuting costs, changes to CEA wrt London and mooted GYH changes, a London posting (now) is financially bad, bad news. Food costs are higher and if you a unaccompanied or single, London can be very expensive.

And of course none of this has anything at all to do with the expected influx of additional Service personnel for the Olympics.

Easy fix - build plenty of married quarters and messes around Main Building and other locations.

Or, give soldiers same perks as those other hard done-by souls who are forced to work in Westminster area. You know, what do you call them errr oh politicians! Perhaps a MoD 90 should give you access to the House of Parliament restaurants - better than PAYD and would increase the class of clientel.

From a relative outsiders point of view it's mindnumbingly short sighted. Somebody ticked a box, saved a few quid and pissed a lot of people off. Outstanding.

London is a very expensive place to live, right or wrong. Every other profession in the world uses a COLA (cost of living adjustment) to reflect that. To eliminate it on the basis that it doesn't exist, or doesn't matter, is just make believe.

Originally Posted by rebel_with_a_cause

And of course none of this has anything at all to do with the expected influx of additional Service personnel for the Olympics.

What a cynic you are!!!

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

Why you think it's a good idea for any soldier to get less money is beyond me. Sounds like sour grapes to me.

Why we lost London weighing back in the late 90's even though we were 7 miles O/S the city centre. It was aruged we needed it more for travel costs were those in the city centre locs paid less for travel costs ect. And it's not affecting those at the bottom of the ladder.

Originally Posted by Andy71

Genuine question, how many of those working within London are paying market rates for accomodation rather than SFA/SLAM rates?

Londist SFA rates (I've spoke to a collegue) are still on the MOD graded system same as elsewhere, Unless others know different

Central London Grade 4 outskirts are 1 depending on the area, as for camp, this will vary also, bear in mind some of the MSQ's in central London are poor which is why it's reflected in a Grade 4,

As for allowance, I agree with banker as London is still and increasingly very expensive and any allowance being withdrawn is bound to attract a heated debate.

Civil Servants get RRA and it should be cut. It was introduced as a bribe to entice people to apply for employment (Recruitment) and to keep (Retention) already establised personnel in situ. Obviously places with higher turnover of staff or with problems recruiting had a highter RRA level. Worthy Down, for example, was (not sure about nowadays) a few years ago something in the region of £1700 per annum whereas Bicester was roughly £1300 (figures are guesstimates). Nowadays the MDP receive London waiting allowance and its being scrutinised and will be withdrawn. Where cuts are being made and costs trimmed then the need for RRA should be re-examined and/or withdrawn entirely.

Originally Posted by Andy71

Genuine question, how many of those working within London are paying market rates for accomodation rather than SFA/SLAM rates?

Me for a start, plus a few others at my place. Albeit either on the outskirts or just outside the M25.

Originally Posted by Herrumph

Easy fix - build plenty of married quarters and messes around Main Building and other locations.

Or, give soldiers same perks as those other hard done-by souls who are forced to work in Westminster area. You know, what do you call them errr oh politicians! Perhaps a MoD 90 should give you access to the House of Parliament restaurants - better than PAYD and would increase the class of clientel.

Haven't Service personnel suffered enough, now you want them to eat with politicians, you swine.