Operational Tour Bonus

John Hemming
15. To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the implementation of the operational tour bonus.

Des Browne
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.

Mr. Harper
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of the new operational bonus in (a) 2006-07 and (b) the following three financial years.

Mr. Ingram
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.