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Armed Forces: Incentives

Asked by James CartlidgeConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 10 March 2026UIN 117349

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been the total cost of issuing operational tour bonuses in each of the ten previous financial years.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones

The total cost of Operational Allowance paid to Service Personnel in each Financial Year since 2015-16, and the numbers in receipt, are set out below:

Financial Year

Numbers in receipt of Op Allowance

Total Op Allowance

2015-16

4,290

£10,709,745.54

2016-17

5,748

£14,668,691.79

2017-18

6,972

£21,038,734.63

2018-19

7,653

£24,554,593.59

2019-20

7,886

£26,621,504.81

2020-21

6,140

£18,587,048.82

2021-22

6,399

£16,596,044.66

2022-23

5,164

£13,673,498.62

2023-24

4,916

£13,663,602.68

2024-25

5,330

£13,091,473.38

2025-26 to date

6,625

£12,896,081.72

Total

44,439

£186,101,020.24

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