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137 Territorial Army
26 OCTOBER 2009
Territorial Army
138
Mrs. Moon: Does my hon. Friend agree that the
other vital role of the Territorials is that they bring to
the ordinary workplace an understanding of what our
front-line troops are experiencing? They bring an
understanding of the training needs, the equipment that
is used, and the problems that they face. To destroy that
connection is extremely damaging.
Bill Rammell: I emphatically understand the importance
of that organic connection with the community. It is
certainly not our intention to undermine or destroy it.
I return to the point that I was making. Making every
effort to support and resource our operations in Afghanistan
is not only a matter of drawing on the Treasury reserve.
Many parts of the core defence budget, such as recruitment
and basic training, contribute as well, so we need to
re-prioritise the core defence budget too. Whatever way
people argue this, that inevitably means that tough
choices will need to be made.
It is a very positive sign for the future that recruitment
to the Army has experienced a significant boost this
year—9,450 recruits are expected to complete training
this year, more than 1,000 up on last year and 1,500 more
than the year before that. Bringing the Army towards
full manning is part of what the main effort is all about.
It will also help us to meet the harmony guidelines for
our regular forces and relieve pressures brought about
by Afghanistan operations. But those new recruits will
cost money to pay, train and equip—extra money that
cannot be drawn from the Treasury reserve for that
purpose. It has to be found within existing budgets, so
there is a hard choice to make.
We have asked each area of defence to look at
uncommitted budgets in this year and to prioritise in
the context of Afghanistan. The Chief of the General
Staff came forward with proposals from the Army to
help to bring the budget into balance in the light of that
recent recruitment boost. After discussion, the Secretary
of State endorsed that advice from the military. He did
so, being clear that we will not allow any risk to the
Afghanistan campaign in the future to materialise. That
is at the heart of what it means for Afghanistan to be
the main effort, and we make no apologies for moving
resources in that direction.
Sir Robert Smith: Will the Minister give way?
Bill Rammell: No, I have to make some progress.
I shall now set out those measures as they affect the
Territorial Army, as the hon. Member for North-East
Milton Keynes has asked me to. The Army has proposed,
as part of its contribution to bringing budgets towards
balance this year and as a contribution to the main
efforts, that it will reduce the amount spent on the
Territorial Army this year which is not directly related
to Afghanistan. That initial proposal was to suspend
the remainder of this financial year’s TA activity that
was not directly supporting operations, contributing
£20 million to a total saving of £43 million in the TA
budget this year.
In saying that, let me be crystal clear: no individual
deploying to Afghanistan does so without the required
training; no TA soldier will be deployed on operations
unless the Army is satisfied that he is properly trained
and prepared; and there is emphatically not a cut to
pre-deployment training. The training needs of TA
personnel deploying to Afghanistan will continue to be
individually assessed, and each will receive the training
that they need before they begin the pre-deployment
training that is specific to the operation upon which
they embark. For reserves, that training is then validated
at the reserves training and mobilisation centre and by
the Permanent Joint Headquarters, before individuals
are mobilised to join a formed unit for an extended
period of collective training ahead of operations.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I
have listened to the comments and representations that
hon. Members have made in recent days. Although we
have always been clear during the debate that those
deploying to Afghanistan will get all the training that
they need, we do understand the concerns that have
been expressed about the effect on those who are not
due to deploy in the foreseeable future. I of course
understand why people might be concerned about the
longer-term effect on capability if the current situation
continues indefinitely.
In the short term, the Army is clear that the measures
can be managed without impact on support for current
operations. But, we are all clear that we will not allow
any longer-term risks to materialise. We recognise that
in some quarters there are genuine concerns that, if the
habit of TA activity is lost for a few months, some of
our volunteers may drift away and never return; and we
understand that the TA is more likely to come through
this difficult period in good order if its members are
encouraged to come together regularly, even if not as
frequently as in the past.
We will therefore ensure some degree of continuity
for those who are not deploying to Afghanistan in the
next few months. Taking all that into account, we
announced today—I did so earlier today in the Chamber—a
small adjustment to the measures that we proposed. We
are reducing the saving by £2.5 million to fund one
training evening per month for all TA personnel from
now until April 2010. I hope the hon. Gentleman will
welcome that change, because it is one that he called for.
Mr. Lancaster: The Minister just said that he will
introduce one TA drill night for all TA personnel, so
that includes specialist units as well, does it?
Bill Rammell: It is for everyone concerned. As I said,
I hope that the hon. Gentleman will support the measure,
because I know it is one that he called for. How individual
TA units arrange it will be a decision for their chain of
command.
Let me also say to the hon. Gentleman, as he has
raised this point, that we do not propose to close any
TA centres. However, I must emphasise that the remainder
of the savings measures are unavoidably necessary in
these challenging times and to focus spending on
Afghanistan. Resources are tight, and I am sure the
House agrees that we have to ensure that our mission in
Afghanistan gets all the support it needs.
As I have said, the precise training that is affected is
being determined locally, depending on local circumstances
and priorities, and commanding officers have some
flexibility in the implementation of savings measures.
All new recruits to the TA will continue to receive phase
1 training. TA personnel who have not yet qualified for
their annual training bounty will have the opportunity
to undertake training to enable them to qualify. The