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Parliament debate future of Territorial Army
26.10.09
MPs will today debate the future of the Territorial Army, amid speculation that ministers may be poised to deliver a cash boost to the part-time servicemen and women.
The TA has been ordered to stop training for six months as part of a cash-saving drive to cut costs by around £20 million amid intense pressure on Government budgets.
But the Daily Telegraph today claimed that the Ministry of Defence may be about to announce that £4 million had been found to allow the TA to continue drill-hall training.
The paper said that Prime Minister Gordon Brown 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.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox told the Telegraph: "These are men and women that have voluntarily chosen to serve their country and for the sake of a few million pounds in a budget of £37 billion are being tossed aside.
"Ministers from Gordon Brown down should understand that we need the TA in Afghanistan."
Conservative MP Mark Lancaster has tabled an adjournment motion on the TA to be debated in the Commons today.
The MoD last night said there had been no change in its position.
A spokesman said: "While some activity is re-prioritised, operations will not be affected: TA soldiers who are due to be mobilised in support of operations, including Afghanistan, will continue to be trained and they will be paid for that training."
