Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, has asked Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond to confirm that soldiers pulled off promotion courses for Olympic security duties will be compensated and restored to their courses as soon as possible.
Speaking during Topical Questions in the House of Commons, the MP said,
“A senior military source has told me that many soldiers have been taken off promotional courses as a consequence of the G4S shambles. Will the Secretary of State assure me that they will get back on to those courses and will be fully compensated if their course is delayed by, say, a year?”
The Defence Secretary replied that he was happy to talk to Richard Drax outside the Chamber and to write to him.
“We heard already how the security shambles is cutting into valuable and well deserved leave for servicemen and women who have recently returned from operations in Afghanistan,” says Drax. “I do hope that if my source is correct and soldiers are being taken off promotion courses for Olympic security, that they will be placed on the next available course and compensated for any loss of pay they may suffer.”
“Yes, soldiers obey orders but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be treated decently and fairly.”
“Having served on operations myself during my time in the army, I know just what post operation leave means to soldiers and importantly, their families.”
“I look forward to receiving the Defence Secretary’s reply to my question.”