Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB)
Updated 3 December 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-appointments/the-armed-forces-pay-review-body-afprb
The Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body (AFPRB) provides independent, evidence based advice on Armed Forces’ pay to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Defence. In making recommendations, it takes account of various factors including the need to recruit, retain and motivate suitable people in the context of service life, government policies for improving services, funding, the inflation target and the need for Armed Forces’ pay to be broadly comparable with civilians. The Review Body shall, in reaching its recommendations, take account of the evidence submitted to it by the government and others. The Review Body may also consider other specific issues as the occasion arises.
The member post requires a time commitment of up to 35 days a year, for which a daily fee of £300 is paid.
All appointments and re-appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
2024
May
The Secretary of State for Defence has reappointed Mr David Billingham, Mr Douglas Peedle and Mr Paul Moloney as members to the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body for a second term.
Mr David Billingham’s period of reappointment is for a further 2 years and 3 months, from 1 February 2024 to 30 April 2026. Mr Douglas Peedle’s period of reappointment is a further 3 years, from 1 May 2024 to 30 April 2027. Mr Paul Moloney’s period of reappointment is 2 years, commencing on 1 May 2024 until 30 April 2026.
2023
August
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans has appointed Emma Boggis from 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2026 as a Public Sector member of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body through an open and fair competition in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointment will involve a time commitment of up to 35 days per year. Remuneration for the role will be at a rate of £300 per day.
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans has reappointed Rear Admiral (Retired) Willie Entwisle OBE MVO to complete a further three year term from 1 May 2023 to 30 April 2026 as the HM Forces member of the Armed Forces Pay Review in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointment will involve a time commitment of up to 35 days per year. Remuneration for the role will be at a rate of £300 per day.
May
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans has appointed Dr Gillian Fairfield from 15 February 2023 to 14 February 2026 as the Public Sector member of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body through an open and fair competition in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointment will involve a time commitment of up to 35 days per year. Remuneration for the role will be at a rate of £300 per day.
2022
August
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans has appointed Mr Steven Dickson as a member of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. Their appointment commences 12 August 2022 and will run until 31 July 2025. The appointment was conducted in accordance with the 2016 Governance Code on Public Appointments.
2021
October
The Armed Forces Pay Review Body provides recommendations to the Government on pay and charges for all military personnel (including Reserves) up to and including One-Star (Brigadier and equivalents).
Kerry Holden has been re-appointed by the Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, Secretary of State for Defence, as a member of the above advisory Non-Departmental Public Body. Kerry Holden will continue in her post for a continued term of three years beginning on 1 Mar 2022 and ending on 31 Mar 2025.
This is a PAID (£300) appointment (reasonable travel and subsistence costs will be reimbursed) and has been made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice.
May
The Secretary of State for Defence has appointed 3 new members to the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body. Mr David Billingham took up his position on 1 February 2021 for a period of 3 years until 1 February 2024.
Mr Douglas Peedle and Mr Paul Moloney’s appointments commenced on 1 May 2021 and will expire on 30 April 2024
2020
November
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has reappointed Mr Peter Maddison as chair of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body for a further 3 years commencing on 1st March 2021 until 29th February 2024.
July
The Secretary of State for Defence has appointed Miss Jenni Douglas Todd, Mr Julian Miller CB and RAdm William Entwisle OBE MVO as members of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body. Their appointment commenced on 20 May 2020 and will run until 30 April 2023. This appointment has been conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.
2019
March
The Secretary of State for Defence extended the current term of RAdm (Ret’d) Jonathan Westbrook by 12 months until 28 February 2020.
January
Kerry Holden was this month appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence for a period of 3 years from 1 March 2019 to 28 February 2022.
2018
August
Lesley Mercer was re-appointed by the minister on 1 March 2019 for 3 years. The member is expected to typically work up to approximately 35 days per year.
March
The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has invited John Steele to extend his tenure as Chair of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body (AFPRB) for a further 3 months from 1 March 2018. This allows Mr Steele to draw pay round 2018 to a conclusion.
Peter Maddison has been appointed by the Prime Minister for a period of 3 years and will take up his post on 1 March 2018. The role of Chair is paid on a per diem basis of £350, in addition to reasonable travel and subsistence expenses. The role also includes ex-officio membership of the Senior Salaries Review Body paid on a per diem basis of £300.
2017
June
Brendan Connor and Professor Ken Mayhew have been reappointed as members of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body for a second term of 3 years from 1 March 2018.
RAdm (Retd) Jon Westbrook has also been reappointed as member of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body for a second term of 1 year, with effect from 1 March 2018.
2016
December
Mrs Janet Whitworth was appointed by the Minister for Defence Veterans Reserves and Personnel on 9 December 2016, for a period of 3 years from 1 March 2017 to 29 February 2020.
June
The following members have been re-appointed by the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans for a further period of 3 years commencing on 1 March 2017:
- Mr Tim Flesher
- Mrs Vilma Patterson
2015
December
Lesley Mercer was appointed by Minister (DPV) on 12 December, 2015 and will take up post for an initial term of 3 years beginning on 1 March 2016 and ending on 28 February 2019.
June
The Prime Minister has re-appointed Mr John Steele as Chair to the AFPRB to commence in March 2016 for a period of 2 years.
January
Mr Brendan Connor has been appointed by The Secretary of State for Defence as Member to the AFPRB until 28 February 2018.
2014
July
The following candidates have been appointed by The Secretary of State for Defence (SofS) as members to the AFPRB until 28 February 2018.
- Kenneth Mayhew
- Jonathan Westbrook
2013
November
The following candidates have been appointed by The Secretary of State for Defence (SofS) as members to the AFPRB until 28 February 2017.
- Mr Timothy Flesher
- Ms Vilma Patterson
August
The following individuals have this month been re-appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence for a further term of 3 and 2 years respectively.
- Mr Paul Kernaghan
- Sir Richard Ibbotson
The re-appointments will come into effect from 1 March 2014.
July
The Prime Minister has announced the appointment of Mr John Steele as the new chair of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body (AFPRB). He will take up his post in July 2013 until 28 February 2016.