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MoD says another 1,060 military personnel have been made redundant MoD says another 1,060 military personnel have been made redundant
(about 1 hour later)
The Ministry of Defence has announced that a further 1,060 military personnel have been made redundant.The Ministry of Defence has announced that a further 1,060 military personnel have been made redundant.
The redundancies are the latest tranche of ongoing cutbacks in staffing. Since 2011, 12,130 military personnel have been made redundant.The redundancies are the latest tranche of ongoing cutbacks in staffing. Since 2011, 12,130 military personnel have been made redundant.
The MoD announced in January that 1,505 were to be made redundant in the latest tranche but this dropped to 1,060, partly through natural wastage and partly because of people moving to other roles.The MoD announced in January that 1,505 were to be made redundant in the latest tranche but this dropped to 1,060, partly through natural wastage and partly because of people moving to other roles.
Of the 1,060, 995 are from the army, 10 from the navy and 55 from the RAF. Of the latest cuts, 995 are from the army, 10 from the navy and 55 from the RAF.
On Wednesday the MoD rejected scathing criticism from the government's public spending watchdog that it was seriously mishandling deep cuts in the size of the army.On Wednesday the MoD rejected scathing criticism from the government's public spending watchdog that it was seriously mishandling deep cuts in the size of the army.
The National Audit Office (NAO) concluded that the MoD seriously overestimated how much might be saved as well as the feasibility of restructuring the army. The MoD target is to bring the army down from 102,000 regular soldiers to 82,500 by 2018, and to fill some of the gap by raising the number of trained reservists from 19,000 to 30,000. The shadow defence secretary, Vernon Coaker, said: "Just a day after we found out the army needs to recruit thousands more troops to meet its requirement, this government is sacking soldiers.
"The defence secretary said he would recruit 11,000 new reserves to make up for the 20,000 armed forces personnel he plans to cut. But since 2011, 12,000 military personnel have been made redundant while the number of reserves has actually fallen.
"It's no wonder that under David Cameron's government, morale in the armed forces has collapsed. Over a quarter of service personnel say they are dissatisfied with service life, and almost a third of all servicemen and women across the army, the Royal Navy and the RAF rate their morale as low.
"Britain's armed forces will be left with a dangerous capability gap unless the defence secretary gets a grip and sorts this mess out."
The National Audit Office (NAO) concluded that the MoD had seriously overestimated how much might be saved as well as the feasibility of restructuring the army. The MoD target is to bring the army down from 102,000 regular soldiers to 82,500 by 2018, and to fill part of the gap by raising the number of trained reservists from 19,000 to 30,000.
The heaviest criticism is over what the NAO sees as the MoD falling badly short of its recruitment targets, particularly much-needed reservists. Far from rising, the number has dropped by 10 in the past two years, from 19,410 to 19,400.The heaviest criticism is over what the NAO sees as the MoD falling badly short of its recruitment targets, particularly much-needed reservists. Far from rising, the number has dropped by 10 in the past two years, from 19,410 to 19,400.
Labour described the report as devastating and said it pointed to a "litany of errors" at the MoD.Labour described the report as devastating and said it pointed to a "litany of errors" at the MoD.
According to the NAO, the programme to reduce the size of the regular army and increase the number of trained reservists was taken without appropriate testing of its feasibility.According to the NAO, the programme to reduce the size of the regular army and increase the number of trained reservists was taken without appropriate testing of its feasibility.
The NAO, which reports to parliament, said the new structure came with "significant risks" that, if they materialised, could significantly affect the army's ability.The NAO, which reports to parliament, said the new structure came with "significant risks" that, if they materialised, could significantly affect the army's ability.
The army is getting close to its planned reduction to 82,500. As of April, it stands at 87,180. But it is behind in recruitment, only taking on 6,366 against a target of 9,715.The army is getting close to its planned reduction to 82,500. As of April, it stands at 87,180. But it is behind in recruitment, only taking on 6,366 against a target of 9,715.
The NAO warned that, without a "significant change in performance", the target might not be hit until 2025.The NAO warned that, without a "significant change in performance", the target might not be hit until 2025.
The defence secretary, Philip Hammond, defended the MoD, saying: "The MoD has always been clear that the numbers in the reserves would fall before they increased, but we have now seen the trained strength of the reserves climb for the first time in nearly 20 years … While there is much still to do, we are confident of achieving the target of a 35,000 trained reserve by the end of financial year 2018."The defence secretary, Philip Hammond, defended the MoD, saying: "The MoD has always been clear that the numbers in the reserves would fall before they increased, but we have now seen the trained strength of the reserves climb for the first time in nearly 20 years … While there is much still to do, we are confident of achieving the target of a 35,000 trained reserve by the end of financial year 2018."
The shadow defence secretary, Vernon Coaker, said: "These ill-thought-out and badly prepared plans are in danger of collapse." He called for the plans to be revisited. "There should be a pause in any further redundancies until we see a significant increase in reserve recruitment. Otherwise, we risk leaving Britain's armed forces with a dangerous capability gap," Coaker said.