John Baron MP secures House of Commons debate on Army Reforms

MP says Government has yet to prove its plans are viable or cost-effective

 John Baron MP and colleagues have secured a Back Bench Business debate on the Government’s Army reforms, which will take place on Thursday 17^th October. The substantive motion is in the ‘notes to editors’. This will give Parliament the opportunity to scrutinise Government plans, and vote accordingly if necessary.

John said,

“There comes a point with any struggling project when the evidence dictates a re-examination of its worth. We have now reached this point with Government attempts to replace 20,000 regular troops with 30,000 reservists.”

“Despite reports of TA numbers falling, reserve recruitment targets being missed and costs increasing, the Government seems determined to plough on blind to the fact that its Army plans will produce neither the cost savings nor capability envisaged.”

“The Government continues to ignore requests in Parliament for a fully-costed plan. The House of Commons will therefore now have the opportunity to question the plans in more detail. We will also address concerns that the proposals will create unacceptable manpower and capability gaps.”

Notes to Editors:

• The motion is as follows: That this House notes concerns about the Government’s defence reforms in relation to whether its proposals for the Reserve Forces will deliver either the anticipated cost savings or defence capability; and urges the Government to delay the disbandment of regular units until it is established the Army Reserve plan is viable and cost-effective.