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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ministers retreat on territorials | Ministers retreat on territorials |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ministers have scaled back planned cuts to the Territorial Army and made concessions over their training after fierce criticism from the opposition. | Ministers have scaled back planned cuts to the Territorial Army and made concessions over their training after fierce criticism from the opposition. |
| The Ministry of Defence wanted to cut £20m from the TA budget and halt all training for six months except for those due to be sent to Afghanistan. | The Ministry of Defence wanted to cut £20m from the TA budget and halt all training for six months except for those due to be sent to Afghanistan. |
| But it now says every unit will get one night's training a month while the TA budget will not be cut by as much. | But it now says every unit will get one night's training a month while the TA budget will not be cut by as much. |
| The Conservatives said the plans were a "shambles" and should be dropped. | The Conservatives said the plans were a "shambles" and should be dropped. |
| 'Vital contribution' | 'Vital contribution' |
| The Lib Dems said the government had shown poor judgement and that the move could do long-term damage to the TA. | The Lib Dems said the government had shown poor judgement and that the move could do long-term damage to the TA. |
| Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell told MPs that the territorials made a "vital contribution" to the security of the UK. | Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell told MPs that the territorials made a "vital contribution" to the security of the UK. |
| Break the habit and you break the TA Liam Fox, Shadow Defence Secretary | Break the habit and you break the TA Liam Fox, Shadow Defence Secretary |
| However, he said the government had invested huge sums in recruiting more regular troops to the Army on the advice of military chiefs. | However, he said the government had invested huge sums in recruiting more regular troops to the Army on the advice of military chiefs. |
| As result, it was recognised that funding for other areas of the defence budget would have to be "reprioritised". | As result, it was recognised that funding for other areas of the defence budget would have to be "reprioritised". |
| While he said TA members would be "disappointed" by this, he said he hoped they would recognise the reality of the financial situation and that support for the Afghan operation must remain the UK's "main effort". | While he said TA members would be "disappointed" by this, he said he hoped they would recognise the reality of the financial situation and that support for the Afghan operation must remain the UK's "main effort". |
| However, he said he had "listened" to concerns about the future of the TA and was adjusting his proposals for their training to help the "continuity and retention" of units. | However, he said he had "listened" to concerns about the future of the TA and was adjusting his proposals for their training to help the "continuity and retention" of units. |
| The changes mean the TA's budget this year will be cut by £2.5m less than originally proposed. | The changes mean the TA's budget this year will be cut by £2.5m less than originally proposed. |
| It was "emphatically" not the case that troops due to be deployed to Afghanistan would see their training cut back, Mr Rammell said. | It was "emphatically" not the case that troops due to be deployed to Afghanistan would see their training cut back, Mr Rammell said. |
| "No TA soldier will be deployed on operations unless the Army is satisfied he is properly trained and prepared," he said. | "No TA soldier will be deployed on operations unless the Army is satisfied he is properly trained and prepared," he said. |
| 'Habit' | 'Habit' |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the TA's annual budget was effectively being cut by £43m and argued it was vital that routine as well as pre-deployment training should be protected. | Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the TA's annual budget was effectively being cut by £43m and argued it was vital that routine as well as pre-deployment training should be protected. |
| The TA has had an increasing burden put upon it in recent years Nick Harvey, Lib Dem defence spokesman | The TA has had an increasing burden put upon it in recent years Nick Harvey, Lib Dem defence spokesman |
| "For many the TA is a habit," he said. "Break the habit and you break the TA." | "For many the TA is a habit," he said. "Break the habit and you break the TA." |
| He added: "The proposals are a shambles and they must be reversed." | He added: "The proposals are a shambles and they must be reversed." |
| For the Lib Dems, defence spokesman Nick Harvey said the amount likely to be saved was tiny compared with the long-term damage it could do to morale within the territorials. | For the Lib Dems, defence spokesman Nick Harvey said the amount likely to be saved was tiny compared with the long-term damage it could do to morale within the territorials. |
| "The TA has had an increasing burden put upon it in recent years. If it were not for their efforts and the skills they bring from civilian life we would have struggled with our operation in Afghanistan in recent times." | "The TA has had an increasing burden put upon it in recent years. If it were not for their efforts and the skills they bring from civilian life we would have struggled with our operation in Afghanistan in recent times." |
| Former Labour defence secretary John Reid said the decision must be kept under review to ensure the recruitment and retention of territorial soldiers was not damaged. | Former Labour defence secretary John Reid said the decision must be kept under review to ensure the recruitment and retention of territorial soldiers was not damaged. |
| BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said it was always unlikely that the compromise would satisfy critics of the government. | BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said it was always unlikely that the compromise would satisfy critics of the government. |
| The future of the TA has risen up the political agenda in recent weeks with more than 500 reservists now serving in Afghanistan. | The future of the TA has risen up the political agenda in recent weeks with more than 500 reservists now serving in Afghanistan. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron has claimed some reservists are not getting the training they need before being deployed abroad and, in some instances, have not been fully paid. | Conservative leader David Cameron has claimed some reservists are not getting the training they need before being deployed abroad and, in some instances, have not been fully paid. |
| Ministers have denied this, saying that all troops being sent abroad are thoroughly prepared. | Ministers have denied this, saying that all troops being sent abroad are thoroughly prepared. |
| Are you a serving or former member of the TA? What is your reaction to today's announcement? Send us your comments using the form below. | |
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