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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Army reservists to receive more benefits | Army reservists to receive more benefits |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Army reservists are to get military pensions and healthcare benefits as part of a bid to increase numbers, the defence secretary has announced. | Army reservists are to get military pensions and healthcare benefits as part of a bid to increase numbers, the defence secretary has announced. |
| Philip Hammond said they would also get increased remuneration, in a move designed to drive up reserve numbers from about 20,000 to 30,000 by 2018. | |
| He said the changes were "key" to the future of the UK's armed forces, as the size of the regular army is reduced. | He said the changes were "key" to the future of the UK's armed forces, as the size of the regular army is reduced. |
| But critics have said it is an attempt to create "an army on the cheap". | But critics have said it is an attempt to create "an army on the cheap". |
| The White Paper proposals come nearly three years after the coalition said it would reduce regular army numbers from 102,000 to 82,000. | |
| Mr Hammond told the Commons the government would invest £1.8bn over 10 years in the reserves, the UK's part-time military. | |
| "We recognise the extraordinary commitment reservists make and in return we commit to deliver the reservists a challenging and rewarding experience, combined with an enhanced remuneration and support package and an improved deal for employers," he said. | |
| He also confirmed the intention to change the reserve force name from the Territorial Army to the Army Reserve to better reflect the future role. | |
| 'Job is changing' | 'Job is changing' |
| Under the plans, reservists will be entitled to a day's paid leave for every eight they serve, meaning that overall they will get a "substantial percentage increase" in their remuneration, said Mr Hammond. | Under the plans, reservists will be entitled to a day's paid leave for every eight they serve, meaning that overall they will get a "substantial percentage increase" in their remuneration, said Mr Hammond. |
| Small private sector firms employing part-time soldiers will also get an extra £500 per month when they are on deployment, the defence secretary said. | Small private sector firms employing part-time soldiers will also get an extra £500 per month when they are on deployment, the defence secretary said. |
| There will also be more notice given for deployments to make it easier for companies to plan. | There will also be more notice given for deployments to make it easier for companies to plan. |
| From April 2015, reservists will be able to accrue armed forces pensions while training, as well as when deployed, and will have access to healthcare benefits similar to those given to serving soldiers. | From April 2015, reservists will be able to accrue armed forces pensions while training, as well as when deployed, and will have access to healthcare benefits similar to those given to serving soldiers. |
| And companies that discriminate against staff who want to serve will be more open to action at employment tribunals. | And companies that discriminate against staff who want to serve will be more open to action at employment tribunals. |
| He said: "The job we are asking our reservists to do is changing. The way we organise and train them will also have to change." | He said: "The job we are asking our reservists to do is changing. The way we organise and train them will also have to change." |
| The number of fully-trained army reservists is expected to rise to 30,000. But across the three services the fully trained force size is expected to hit 35,000. | |
| Some 26 reservist bases - of a total of 334 - are to be closed as part of the reorganisation, said Mr Hammond. | |
| Mr Hammond did not give details of which bases would be shut, prompting anger from some MPs. | |
| Commons Speaker John Bercow accused him of "incompetence" and shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said it was "a shameful way to behave". | |
| 'See danger' | 'See danger' |
| In April, Tory MP Col Bob Stewart said the government was "trying to get as inexpensive an army as possible... an army on the cheap". | In April, Tory MP Col Bob Stewart said the government was "trying to get as inexpensive an army as possible... an army on the cheap". |
| Speaking shortly before Mr Hammond's statement, he said the commitment businesses had to make to reservists could make it unworkable for small firms. | Speaking shortly before Mr Hammond's statement, he said the commitment businesses had to make to reservists could make it unworkable for small firms. |
| He said: "If you're a large organisation like British Aerospace or the Ministry of Defence itself or the civil service, it might not be as big a problem, but it's a much bigger problem when you go down in scale, so you go to a company of say 10, 15 people... | He said: "If you're a large organisation like British Aerospace or the Ministry of Defence itself or the civil service, it might not be as big a problem, but it's a much bigger problem when you go down in scale, so you go to a company of say 10, 15 people... |
| "It's my job as a member of parliament to even criticise sometimes my own government when I think there's a danger. I do see a danger." | "It's my job as a member of parliament to even criticise sometimes my own government when I think there's a danger. I do see a danger." |
| The latest plans come as a result of the almost 8% cut to the MoD budget announced in 2010. | The latest plans come as a result of the almost 8% cut to the MoD budget announced in 2010. |