Our troops aren't fit for jobs in civvy street, says the man who's meant to be fighting their corner

Defence Secretary Des Browne faced fresh anger over soldiers' pay last night after suggesting their low wages are justified because many would fail to get better-paid jobs outside the Army.

Mr Browne said young recruits were not paid as much as 'uniformed organisations in civilian street' because they lacked the qualifications needed for other jobs.

In a speech to the Royal British Legion's Scottish annual conference last June, Mr Browne also claimed military service made soldiers 'more employable'.

Although his comments went unnoticed at the time, they emerged yesterday as the conference's minutes were presented to this year's meeting in Perth.

The Royal British Legion attacked the remarks as 'deeply offensive', claiming they portrayed troops as 'too dim' to work as traffic wardens, police or firemen.

It comes just a day after General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the Army, complained that soldiers who risk death or injury on the front line are paid less than traffic wardens back home.

A young infantry soldier deployed to Afghanistan will earn £16,227, with operational allowances taking his pay to just over £20,000. That is less than the average £20,526 salary for traffic wardens.

Mr Browne told hundreds of delegates from Legion branches: 'Why don't we pay servicemen and women in a comparative rate to uniformed organisations in civilian street?

'I have to say the honest answer to that, for a number of young people, particularly those who join the Army, before they join the Army, they would not have been accepted by any of these organisations.

British troops on a tank in Basra during a mission. Des Browne has said that many of these soldiers wouldn't be able to get a job outside the army

'But, because of the formative experiences the services have been for you, as a result of what you have gone through, you can bet your bottom dollar that when you come out of the Forces, you will be acceptable.'

A spokesman for the Royal British Legion Scotland said: 'Mr Browne's comments are deeply offensive and could hardly be more insulting.

'We have long believed combat soldiers should not be paid substantially less than an ordinary police constable. These are soldiers, risking their lives every day. At the same time, their wives and families often have to endure appalling housing.'

One serving officer told the Mail: 'Des Browne isn't going to make friends with many soldiers this way.

'I'd be interested to hear him selling that message to our guys sweating it out in Iraq or Afghanistan.'

Dr Liam Fox, the Conservative's defence spokesman, said: 'Our Armed Forces are some of the best in the world. It is about time this Government gave them the respect they deserve.'

But a spokesman for Des Browne said: 'To suggest the Defence Secretary is in any way inferring that those who join the Armed Forces could not do other jobs is nonsense.

'He was making the point that during their service they learn new skills and become highly trained individuals who, in turn, become extremely employable - that is the opportunity that the military gives them.'