Further to my statement to the House on 10 October, I can confirm that all service personnel have now been given full details of the scheme. Our aim is to pay the allowance as soon as possible to all those who have already returned from Iraq and Afghanistan.
It is estimated that the new operational bonus, to be called "Operational Allowance", will cost in the order of £60 million for 2006-07. The subsequent cost will be dependent upon the type, and duration, of future military operations.