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Army reserve row: Rebel MPs defeated over restructuring Army reserve row: Rebel MPs defeated over restructuring
(about 2 hours later)
The government has defeated an attempt by Tory rebels to delay moves to reorganise the Army. The government has defeated an attempt by rebel Conservative MPs to delay moves to reorganise the Army.
Conservative MP John Baron had tabled an amendment to the coalition's bill to delay plans to recruit more reservists to replace regular soldiers. John Baron MP had tabled an amendment to the coalition's bill, saying MPs must "re-examine" plans to recruit more reservists to replace regular soldiers.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond had said voting against the restructuring risked "serious damage" to the UK's reserve forces. But Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said delays to the plan risked "serious damage" to the UK's reserve forces.
The rebel amendment to the proposals was defeated by 54 votes. Mr Baron's proposal was defeated in the Commons by 306 votes to 252, a government majority of 54.
The government agreed to update MPs every year on the strength of the military reserves in an effort to head off the rebellion. The amendment to the Defence Reform Bill aimed to give both peers and MPs the power to block the government's proposals, which entail expanding the size of the Army Reserve, formerly known as the Territorial Army, to 30,000 from 19,000 now - while reducing the regular force by 20,000 by 2020.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the law would be changed to require an annual review to be made to Parliament. In an effort to head off the rebellion, the government earlier agreed to update MPs every year on the strength of the military reserves.
The concession came as MPs raised concerns that a target to recruit 10,000 Army Reserve recruits will not be met. The concession came as MPs raised concerns that a target to recruit 10,000 Army Reserve recruits would not be met.
Ministers say they want to put reservists "centre stage" as the regular Army reduces in size by 20,000. 'Political football'
But some Conservative MPs were worried there would not be enough reservists to fill the gaps left by substantial cuts in regular Army units - due to come in by 2020 - and wanted the government to publish up-to-date reservist recruitment numbers. Up to 20 Tory MPs backed the call by Mr Baron - a former soldier - for a delay ahead of the vote.
Up to 20 Tory MPs, led by former soldier Mr Baron, backed calls to delay plans to boost the size of the Army Reserve, formerly known as the Territorial Army, to 30,000 from 19,000 now. "I think it's not unwise to say pause for a brief moment and let Parliament properly scrutinise these plans," he had argued.
But Mr Hammond had told MPs any delay to the legislation would send a "negative signal" to reservists.
"The government has set out its plan. We are legislating to deliver it. The Army has embraced it wholeheartedly," he said.
"For Parliament to introduce additional trip wires at this stage would create uncertainty, undermine the message about rollout of improved terms and conditions and cast doubt about our intention to spend the sizeable sum of money - the £1.8bn - that we have available to support this agenda.
"In short, it would make the whole agenda into a political football."
But ahead of the vote Mr Hammond said The Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations would provide annual information to Parliament on recruitment and retention in the reserves.But ahead of the vote Mr Hammond said The Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations would provide annual information to Parliament on recruitment and retention in the reserves.
He told MPs that "on reflection we consider that is a sensible idea and will strengthen the programme for the growth and reinvigoration of our reserves".He told MPs that "on reflection we consider that is a sensible idea and will strengthen the programme for the growth and reinvigoration of our reserves".
The BBC's political correspondent Ross Hawkins said the government would bring forward its own amendment to the bill in the House of Lords - similar to one proposed by Tory MP Julian Brazier on Wednesday - to legislate for this but that this would not necessarily guarantee an annual debate on the report. In the end, nine Conservative backbenchers voted against the government, with two tellers also supporting the rebel amendment.
The BBC News channel's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said that potential rebels had been persuaded to back the government, partly because of the annual recruitment report proposal.
But they also were genuinely concerned that the rebel amendment could have compromised the ability of armed forces to operate as effectively as Mr Hammond said they needed to, our correspondent added.