Territorial Army: Training

Mr. Lancaster
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps have been taken to enable members of the Territorial Army to complete minimum training standards in order to qualify for bounty in 2009-10;

(2) whether members of the Territorial Army (TA) who do not meet the minimum requirements to qualify for bounty as a result of the proposed reduction in TA training will be awarded it.

Bill Rammell
All TA personnel will be given opportunities to complete the necessary activities to enable them to qualify for an annual bounty, if they have not already done so. One further set of military training tests will be run in each region of the country. In addition, extensions of the training year up to the 30 June 2010 may be permitted by the chain of command to provide those who have not yet completed the minimum number of training days the opportunity to do so.

There will be no waivers for those who fail to meet the minimum qualifying standards.