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Territorial Army

Volume 461: debated on Wednesday 20 June 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how the figure for the planned reduction for funding for the Territorial Army in financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09 as a result of the Defence Programme 2007 was arrived at; and what factors were taken into account in deciding to make the reduction; (142678)

(2) when the Armed Forces Minister was first informed of the potential impact of the reduction of funding for the Territorial Army in financial years 2007-08 to 2008-09.

[holding answer 15 June 2007]: A range of measures was considered collectively during the Department’s Planning Round to balance the Defence Programme and ensure that all areas of Defence, including the Territorial Army, operate as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. It was judged that we could make a small adjustment to TA expenditure in order to ensure that resources were allocated in line with Defence priorities, while ensuring that TA support to current operations remained unaffected.

This measure formed part of the Defence Programme 07 submitted to Ministers in February 2007 for consideration and approval, as part of the departmental planning round process.