§ 10. Mr. Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby)What assessment he has made of the impact of his planned reductions in TA centres on recruitment into the various cadet forces; and if he will make a statement. [61347]
§ The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mr. Doug Henderson)So that recruitment to the cadet forces is not affected by the closure of Territorial Army centres used by cadet units, we shall ensure that suitable alternative accommodation is provided for a cadet unit before it has to vacate its present site. We plan to invest up to £12 million to ensure that those cadet units that have to move are provided with the accommodation necessary to support them.
§ Mr. WareingDoes my hon. Friend agree that, when Army cadet units are located in TA centres, there is a greater enthusiasm which comes from being associated with enthusiastic territorials? The cadet unit at Aintree barracks, close to my constituency, is particularly viable and usually has about 150 members. I fear that recruitment in the area will suffer from the proposed closure of the barracks. I should like a review of the situation. Will the £12 million that my hon. Friend mentioned be sufficient?
§ Mr. HendersonI am grateful to my hon. Friend. I know that it is an important issue in Liverpool. I can assure him that, if a cadet unit has to move, we will guarantee that it will get the same level of support, equipment and buildings that it has at present. Having said that, one has to recognise that there are 1,400 Army cadet units in Britain. Until the statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State three weeks ago, 390 of them met at Territorial Army centres. The others met in schools, youth centres and other venues and received support from the Territorial Army and other regular Army units when necessary. Only 90 units have been affected and they have the guarantee that I have just given the House. I hope that that is acceptable to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Peter Viggers (Gosport)Is it really true that the Government are contemplating a cut of one third in the permanent TA staff? Will that not be severely damaging both to the cadet interest to which the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) referred and to the mobility and flexibility of the TA—the one thing that the Government say that they are trying to promote?
§ Mr. HendersonWe are looking at achieving better efficiency—which is what the taxpayer wants—while providing the same level of capability in our armed forces. That means that sections of our armed forces, such as the TA, have to make changes to achieve a more effective service. Our aim is as simple as that, and it applies to the matters raised by my hon. Friend the Member for West Derby and by the hon. Gentleman. There must be efficiency gains and that will mean some changes in the numbers of permanent staff.