Partial retreat on TA training cuts

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Defence Minister Bill Rammell announced the "small adjustment" in answer to an emergency question in the Commons.

He said it would reduce by £2.5 million, the £20 million expected to be saved by stopping training for six months.

Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox branded the Government's policy on training for the TA a "shambles".

The planned training cutbacks sparked a furious response, with scores of reservists reportedly threatening to leave the force.

Earlier, it was reported by the Daily Telegraph that the Prime Minister was preparing to act in order to head off a potential public relations calamity on the scale of the row over Gurkhas' rights to settle in the UK.

In response to an emergency question tabled by the Tories, Mr Rammell said the conflict in Afghanistan had to get the "first call" on money, equipment and training. The core defence budget had to be "re-prioritised" to help the push there and "tough choices" had to be made to meet a rise in Army recruitment.

The Army had proposed a reduction in the amount spent on the TA, which Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth had endorsed. "We did so being clear that we would not allow any risk to the Afghanistan campaign in the future to materialise. No TA soldier will be deployed on operations unless the Army is satisfied that he is properly trained and prepared. Pre-deployment training emphatically isn't being cut back."

Mr Rammell acknowledged, however, that the initial plan was to suspend the remainder of non-deployment TA training for the rest of the year, saving £20 million.

Mr Rammell said the training reduction was "disappointing" for TA members but insisted it was being applied in "exceptional" circumstances and was "sensible and proportionate".