Paras Back From Tour Face 'Danger Pay' Cut

Members of the Parachute Regiment returning from tours of Afghanistan could lose their so-called "danger payment" as defence chiefs seek to reduce costs.

The cut to the special Para Pay bonus will save £4m as the Ministry of Defence tries to deal with the estimated £1bn shortfall in its budget.

Paratroopers are most likely to be affected as the Army reduces the number of soldiers fully trained to parachute.

It would mean they would no longer qualify for the additional cash, which amounts to £5-a-day.

But The Daily Telegraph said it could mean a pay cut of up to 10% for the lowest paid private.

The newspaper also claims as many as 4,000 individuals could be affected.

The rationale behind the cut is paying people for what they actually do - a quartermaster with the Paras would get the money without ever being required to parachute.

A quartermaster doing the same job with another unit would not.

The MoD stressed the Army was still working through the numbers and said no-one would see their pay drop for at least a year after any change.

A spokesperson said: "In light of the SDSR (strategic defence and security review) it is likely that the majority of Parachute Regiment soldiers will remain fully trained to parachute.

"But the parachute requirement for 16 Air Assault Brigade as a whole will be reduced.

"Soldiers who remain fully trained to parachute will continue to receive specialist pay.

"Personnel will be informed as soon as these plans have been finalised."

The Daily Telegraph quoted a senior officer as saying: "This is going to really strike at morale.

"These blokes have just got back from putting their lives on the line for their country and now their government is forcing a 10% pay cut on them.

"It's so outrageous that people just laugh."