BAFF

More about the TA cutbacks

Territorial Army: Finance

Defence

Written answers and statements, 21 October 2009

Mark Lancaster (Shadow Minister, International Development; North East Milton Keynes, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons he decided to implement reductions in the budget available for the Territorial Army before the end of the 2009-10 financial year.

Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 21 October 2009, c1469W)

Bill Rammell (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Harlow, Labour)

holding answer 19 October 2009

This year is very challenging in resource terms, and success in Afghanistan must take priority. As much as the Regular forces, the Reserves must now focus available resources on supporting the ongoing campaign in Afghanistan, which means reducing activity levels elsewhere. These savings have been recommended by the Army and accepted by the Secretary of State. This is about putting today's operations first.

The measures that have been the subject of recent parliamentary debate and media reporting are specific to this financial year and reflect the fact that we are rightly focusing resources on the main effort, Afghanistan. And that means also focusing on forces currently deployed and the next roulement. But we have not taken these decisions without understanding potential risks, and we are absolutely determined that any risks to deployments to Afghanistan in 2012 will not be allowed to materialise. The Prime Minister is clear that the mission to Afghanistan will have all the resources and backing it needs to succeed.

We remain committed to ensuring that we have Reserve forces that meet the needs of Defence, today and tomorrow. Discussions about future training for the TA will be based on the requirement to preserve its ability to support regular forces on operations, and on ensuring that TA soldiers are properly equipped and trained.

Those reserves deploying over the next year will of course continue to be paid for the training they do to prepare them for their deployment, as well as for the deployment itself. This training will vary for individuals, depending on the task they will be required to do and their current skill set. This pre-deployment training is not being cut back. It will continue to be validated at the Reserves Training and Mobilisation Centre at Chilwell, before individuals are mobilised to join a formed unit for an extended period of training ahead of operations. It cannot be said enough; no soldier will be allowed to deploy to Afghanistan without the necessary training and equipment, whatever their trade, whether regular or reserve.

Territorial Army: Finance

Defence

Written answers and statements, 21 October 2009

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Mark Lancaster (Shadow Minister, International Development; North East Milton Keynes, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons he decided to implement reductions in the budget available for the Territorial Army before the end of the 2009-10 financial year.

• Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 21 October 2009, c1469W)

• Email me when Bill Rammell speaks
• Most recent apperances
• Numerology
• Full profile ...

Bill Rammell (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Harlow, Labour)

holding answer 19 October 2009

This year is very challenging in resource terms, and success in Afghanistan must take priority. As much as the Regular forces, the Reserves must now focus available resources on supporting the ongoing campaign in Afghanistan, which means reducing activity levels elsewhere. These savings have been recommended by the Army and accepted by the Secretary of State. This is about putting today's operations first.

The measures that have been the subject of recent parliamentary debate and media reporting are specific to this financial year and reflect the fact that we are rightly focusing resources on the main effort, Afghanistan. And that means also focusing on forces currently deployed and the next roulement. But we have not taken these decisions without understanding potential risks, and we are absolutely determined that any risks to deployments to Afghanistan in 2012 will not be allowed to materialise. The Prime Minister is clear that the mission to Afghanistan will have all the resources and backing it needs to succeed.

We remain committed to ensuring that we have Reserve forces that meet the needs of Defence, today and tomorrow. Discussions about future training for the TA will be based on the requirement to preserve its ability to support regular forces on operations, and on ensuring that TA soldiers are properly equipped and trained.

Those reserves deploying over the next year will of course continue to be paid for the training they do to prepare them for their deployment, as well as for the deployment itself. This training will vary for individuals, depending on the task they will be required to do and their current skill set. This pre-deployment training is not being cut back. It will continue to be validated at the Reserves Training and Mobilisation Centre at Chilwell, before individuals are mobilised to join a formed unit for an extended period of training ahead of operations. It cannot be said enough; no soldier will be allowed to deploy to Afghanistan without the necessary training and equipment, whatever their trade, whether regular or reserve.