They get less money so the mod can save themselves money, I think it`s disgusting.

Originally Posted by crow_bag

London pay is what, £100 a month? Hardly the end of the world is it.

If you have £100 left over every month,as a squaddie, then,no problem.

Hmmm, are new troops still getting access to flats in Canada Water, and Canary Wharf? Are railcards / Oyster cards still paid for too? Is FIA still included as an allowance?

My old office worked out that our Corporal (Admin role) was getting about £27K per year, plus the equivalent of £800 per month for his flat, plus £100ish per month for his railcard and about £350 per month for his FIA, plus free travel home. They worked out he was costing the MOD nearly £42000 per year to employ someone in London, doing a job that a CS admin grade would be employed for on £16K per year and £2K London weighting. When you looked at the hours worked, the output was the same. Sadly its a no brainer, why employ staff in London to do jobs like admin that civvies can do for less than half the price?

I fork out 300 quid a month for a train ticket into London for my work. No London weighting and expected to all my expenses. Personally I always thought allowances like Respod were a laugh.

Originally Posted by jim30

Hmmm, are new troops still getting access to flats in Canada Water, and Canary Wharf? Are railcards / Oyster cards still paid for too? Is FIA still included as an allowance?

My old office worked out that our Corporal (Admin role) was getting about £27K per year, plus the equivalent of £800 per month for his flat, plus £100ish per month for his railcard and about £350 per month for his FIA, plus free travel home. They worked out he was costing the MOD nearly £42000 per year to employ someone in London, doing a job that a CS admin grade would be employed for on £16K per year and £2K London weighting. When you looked at the hours worked, the output was the same. Sadly its a no brainer, why employ staff in London to do jobs like admin that civvies can do for less than half the price?

There's quite a lot of accommodation available in London for the military, however that would need some joined up thinking and adjusting a couple of budgets, something the MoD in general is very poor at. Plenty of TA centres have flats and houses sitting empty whilst people are being put up in privately rented flats, it's a no brainer really. Unfortunately the people with no brains are those in charge.....

Originally Posted by lacrabat

There's quite a lot of accommodation available in London for the military, however that would need some joined up thinking and adjusting a couple of budgets, something the MoD in general is very poor at. Plenty of TA centres have flats and houses sitting empty whilst people are being put up in privately rented flats, it's a no brainer really. Unfortunately the people with no brains are those in charge.....

Usually CS

But, erm, isn't it Sgt's and above. In which case this hits MoD staff officers as a total number more than anyone else.

If that's the case, and since policy is dictated from same, then haven't mil policy makers taken allowances from themselves?

Which leads me to think that they deliberately picked something that they could shoulder in support of all the other pain everyone is dealing with, rather than protecting their own pay?

So, why are people not acknowledging what I think is a top bit of leadership, in the whole lead from the front theme.

Or am I wrong?

"Usually CS "

Could you show me on a wiring diagram the CS in charge of army accommodation and allowance policy? I suspect the pay colonels and DCDS(PERS) will be facsinated to know who their real boss is!

Originally Posted by Papa_Lazarou

But, erm, isn't it Sgt's and above. In which case this hits MoD staff officers as a total number more than anyone else.

If that's the case, and since policy is dictated from same, then haven't mil policy makers taken allowances from themselves?

Which leads me to think that they deliberately picked something that they could shoulder in support of all the other pain everyone is dealing with, rather than protecting their own pay?

So, why are people not acknowledging what I think is a top bit of leadership, in the whole lead from the front theme.

Or am I wrong?

Good point, if it was Majors and above I'd agree with you........

Jim30 - you are little bit out of date.

Oyster Cards are no longer free (Zone 2 will cost c GBP 90 pcm), and as I pointed out in an earlier post, the days of luxury riverfront apartments in Canary Wharf and elsewhere have gone. The rental ceiling the Countrywide Mobility now has to work with has been lowered and DIO insist that it is rigourously enforced, along with the management of voids. Thus, if your flatmate mvevs out, expect to be 'condensed' into another (read cheaper) flat, tout suite! Moreover the VCDS '45 minute' list has shrunk considerably and can no longer be used as justification to be within walking distance of MB. FIA is now c GBP 8.50 per day.

lacrabat:

Specifically where is this vacant accommodation in London? Over the last few years big chunks have been sold off (Chelsea Bks, Uxbridge, housing areas near Woolwich etc). I was involved in a scoping study to convert OWOB into SLAM-type accn for MB personnel, but it was pointed out that it was not the role of the MOD to effectively establish and run hotels in Central London. Additionally, quite a lot of the TA 'property' is not owned by the MOD and is often on a 'lease in perpetuity' for Volunteer and Militia use (and nothing else). Just ask the Duke of Westminster...