My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Des Browne) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The supplement to the 2007 report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) making recommendations on the pay of service medical and dental officers has been published today. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House.

The AFPRB has recommended an increase in basic military salary of 2 per cent for all regular and reserve defence medical services consultants, general medical practitioners and general dental practitioners. The review body also recommends a pay increase of 2 per cent for junior doctors and cadets. In addition, the review body recommends that there should be an increase of 2 per cent in the value of trainer pay, but no increase in the value of distinction and clinical excellence awards.

The Government have agreed to accept the AFPRB's recommendations in full, with implementation effective from 1 April 2007. The additional cost to the defence budget will be met within existing departmental expenditure limits.

The Government have also accepted the AFPRB's recommendations to introduce a targeted financial retention incentive for emergency, intensive therapy and operation theatre nurses and an increase in the sum offered under the golden hello scheme for the same three nurse specialties.