HC Deb 20 July 1993 vol 229 c189
13. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces were made redundant in 1992; and how many he expects to be made redundant in 1993.

Mr. Hanley

In 1992–93, 3,957 people left the armed forces on redundancy terms, of whom 95 per cent were volunteers. In 1993–94, 8,482 people will leave on redundancy terms, of whom 91 per cent. will be volunteers. Redundancy, restrictions on recruitment and normal early retirement or natural wastage are all being used to achieve the planned rundown in armed forces manpower which began in 1991. The Army will shortly be asking for further volunteers.

Mr. Janner

Will the Minister assure the House that he has consulted the Secretary of State for Employment before making redundancies on such a scale when, even on the Government's figures, there are nearly 3 million people unemployed? Will he please listen again to his hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) and reconsider the proposed relocation of the Army records office from Leicestershire to Glasgow, which will cause nearly 200 redundancies in and around our constituencies if it takes place?

Mr. Hanley

If the Army personnel office were to move to Glasgow, there would be considerable joy among people on the unemployment registers in Glasgow. We are in constant touch with the Secretary of State for Employment. However, we must not run our armed forces on the basis of the social conditions outside, but on that of the threat that they have to meet.