MP urges transparency and warns again of false economies
Today in the House of Commons during Defence Questions, John Baron MP asked the Government to produce revised costings for their plans to replace 20,000 regulars with 30,000 reservists. Following the initial launch of these plans, there have been a series of cost increases including changes to pension liabilities and increased financial incentives.
John asked:
“One reason many of us oppose the Government’s reservist plans is the prospect of false economies. Given last month it doubled the financial incentive offered to ex-regular reservists because of poor recruitment, and other increased costs, will the Government now update Parliament as to the financial costs of this initiative?”
The Rt. Hon. Mark Francois MP responded by saying that whilst costs had increased, he confirmed that reservists were highly cost effective once deployed.
John said afterwards:
“Reservists are highly cost effective when deployed for the MOD because it is the Treasury who will have to pay for them. It is accepted that reservists cost more to both train and deploy – they are only cheaper when not deployed.”
“The Government seems reluctant to address the increased costs issue. This is a concern. Transparency is required.”
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