MP questions TA recruitment performance
Today in the House of Commons, during Defence Questions, John Baron MP questioned the Minister for Defence Personnel, Rt Hon Mark Francois MP, about the Government’s Army proposals. The Government is going to cut Regular Army battalions, with an increase in the number of Reservists to plug the gap.
John said,
“The Government will know that I think it unwise to disband Regular Infantry battalions – such as 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers – before being certain that our reservists can plug the gap. What objective criteria exist for Parliament to gauge the progress of Government plans in this regard?”
Although the Minister said there had been a 25% increase in interest in joining the TA, he gave no objective criteria by which progress could be measured.
Afterwards, John said,
“It will be difficult for Parliament to gauge progress without objective criteria. These plans are a real gamble by the Government. I have great respect for the TA, having served alongside them, but we should realise this would be the largest peacetime mobilisation of Reservists in our history.”
Ends
Word Count: 195
Date: 14th January 2013
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