From today's Telegraph...
" Forces morale
SIR - You report that morale in the Armed Forces has fallen sharply (August 24).
The manner in which loyal members of the Forces are being informed of redundancy is a scandal. That many lose their pension entitlement is a disgrace.
My son had six weeks' leave lost last year while serving in Afghanistan and this year's leave cancelled for duty at the Olympics, where he and his colleagues lived in a disused multi-storey car park.
Nick Harvey, minister for the Armed Forces, replied to a letter of mine by saying that the Forces are paid for 24 hours a day. That means that a rifleman earning £18,841 a year is getting £2.15 an hour. The EU working time directive does not apply to the Armed Forces, nor does the Human Rights Act. Who speaks for these men and women? They are certainly not being well served.
Alan Eastwood
Corwen, Denbighshire "
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/9501914/A-drastic-rebuilding-of-Heathrow-can-cut-through-this-airport-impasse.html