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Tories pledge to slash MoD staff Tories pledge to slash MoD staff
(about 10 hours later)
Plans to slash the number of civil servants working in the Ministry of Defence are due to be announced by the Conservatives. The Conservatives are to announce plans to slash the number of civil servants working in the Ministry of Defence.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox is to say that it is time for the MoD to "get its house in order" and redirect resources toward the front line. Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox will say it is time for the MoD to "get its house in order" and redirect resources toward the front line.
The Tories say there is now one civil servant for every two serving armed force members. The Tories say there is a civil servant for every two serving armed force members. Last week the Lib Dems pledged to cut 10,000 "desk jobs".
But the government says it has already taken steps to reduce civilian staff.But the government says it has already taken steps to reduce civilian staff.
The "capability review" to be announced by the Tories aims to cut both civil servants and the number of military top brass.The "capability review" to be announced by the Tories aims to cut both civil servants and the number of military top brass.
We have taken steps to reduce the civilian workforce wherever we can without putting troops at risk Armed forces minister Bill Rammell Procurement pledge
The party will also promise a "radical root and branch reform" of the MoD's procurement process to improve the purchase and delivery of equipment for the armed forces.The party will also promise a "radical root and branch reform" of the MoD's procurement process to improve the purchase and delivery of equipment for the armed forces.
The party says the 28,000 staff working on procurement alone almost match the size of the entire 34,000-strong Royal Navy. The party says the 28,000 staff working on procurement alone almost match the size of the 34,000-strong Royal Navy.
We have taken steps to reduce the civilian workforce wherever we can without putting troops at risk Bill RammellArmed forces minister
And the Tories accuse the government of presiding over a procurement process that its own recently published Gray review described as "broken".And the Tories accuse the government of presiding over a procurement process that its own recently published Gray review described as "broken".
"Under a Conservative government, procurement will be the servant, not the master, of the strategic defence review and capability review," Dr Fox is expected to say in a speech to a defence conference in London organised by Jane's, the specialist military publishing company. "Under a Conservative government, procurement will be the servant, not the master, of the strategic defence review and capability review," Dr Fox will say in a speech to a defence conference in London.
He will say all three amed forces had questions to answer over the number of officers promoted to the highest and best-paid ranks, due to a culture of "Buggins' term". He will say all three armed forces had questions to answer about the number of officers promoted to the highest and best-paid ranks, due to a culture of "Buggins' turn" - a reference to promotion by seniority, not merit.
'Misguided' proposals'Misguided' proposals
The party has already promised a strategic defence review to assess the shape of armed forces that will be needed for the military threats of the future. The party has already promised a strategic defence review to assess the shape of armed forces needed for future military threats.
But armed forces minister Bill Rammell said some of the Conservative proposals were "misguided" and the government was already implementing reforms to the MoD's staffing levels.But armed forces minister Bill Rammell said some of the Conservative proposals were "misguided" and the government was already implementing reforms to the MoD's staffing levels.
He said: "We have taken steps to reduce the civilian workforce wherever we can without putting troops at risk.He said: "We have taken steps to reduce the civilian workforce wherever we can without putting troops at risk.
"Over the last four years we have reduced the number of civil servants from 109,000 to 85,730.""Over the last four years we have reduced the number of civil servants from 109,000 to 85,730."
Mr Rammell said ministers were already committed to a strategic defence review early in the next Parliament which would examine better ways of military procurement. Mr Rammell said ministers had committed to a strategic defence review early in the next Parliament which would examine better ways of military procurement.
Last week Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg called for a £6,000 pay rise for entry level privates in the Army and their equivalents in other armed services, in addition to lower rises for other ranks.
The party said the money could be found from within the MoD's existing budget, and said it was "ridiculous" to employ one desk-based person for every two serving members of personnel.