§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received the report on the release of employees for Territorial Army service from the national employer liaison committee; if he will make the report public; if he will list the membership; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe national employer liaison committee has now issued an interim report, which makes a number of recommendations aimed at, inter alia, increasing employers' awareness of the role and importance of the Territorial Army, thereby encouraging a greater degree of co-operation from them. These recommendations are being considered. The membership of the committee, to whom I would like to express the Department's gratitude for their worthy efforts, is as follows:
NATIONAL EMPLOYER LIAISON COMMITTEE (NELC)—MEMBERSHIP
Chairman
- Mr. R. T. S. Macpherson CBE, MC, TD, DL.
Representatives from Industry, Commerce and Trade Unions
- Mr. A. J. Gooding.
- Chairman
- Gooding Group Ltd.
- The Right Hon. Earl Jellicoe DSO, MC.
- Chairman
- Davy Corporation.
- Mr. J. Leigh Pemberton.
- Managing Director
- Whatman Reeve Angel plc.
- Mr. F. A. Baker.
- Representing TUC.
- Mr. J. Miller.
- James Miller & Partners Ltd.
- Sir Trevor Holdsworth.
- GKN plc.
- Mr. J. Lyles BSc, ATI, JP.
- Chairman
- S. Lyles plc.
- Sir J. J. Salisse.
Representatives from MOD and Council of TAVRAs
- DGTA &.—Maj. Gen. C. E. W. Jones CBE.
- AUS(A).—Mr. M. J. Culham.
- Chairman Council of TAVRAs— Lt. Gen. Sir Peter
- Hudson CB, CBE, DL.
- Brig. TA—Brig. P. P. Orchard Lisle TD, ADC, DL.
- Vice Chairman Council of TAVRAs—Col. G. S. P. Carden
- CBE, TD, DL.
May be in Attendance
- DARC—Brig. W. K. L. Prosser CBE, MC.
- Col. TA—Col. A. C. Ward OBE.
- Secretary Council of TAVRAs— Maj. Gen. M. Matthews
- CB.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is now in a position to make an announcement about the payment of Department of Health and Social Security benefits to members of the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanMembers of the Territorial Army in receipt of supplementary benefit may earn an additional £4 per week from Territorial Army sources without effect798W on benefit, and are allowed to aggregate the total disregard of £32 per month. A procedure has also been introduced to reduce the delay in re-commencing both unemployment and supplementary payments on return from annual camp. The Government are now considering the position of members in receipt of unemployment benefit, and I hope to make an announcement on this shortly.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's review of vehicles and the use of ammunition by the Territorial Army.
§ Mr. FreemanAlthough reviews of vehicle holdings and the use of ammunition are being undertaken as part of the normal process of programme management, none of them relate specifically to the Territorial Army, although their needs will, of course, be taken into consideration.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report for each of the years from 1978 (i) the strength and (ii) the establishment of the Territorial Army.
§ Mr. FreemanThe respective figures for (i) strength and (ii) establishment of the Territorial Army at 1 April for each of the years from 1978 are:
Year Strength Establishment 1978 60,645 n/a 1979 59,387 72,635 1980 63,292 73,666 1981 69,524 73,666 1982 72,062 74,961 1983 72,825 73,765 1984 71,415 75,051 1985 73,675 77,659 1986 77,681 80,185 The corresponding figures for the home service force, which is an integral part of the Territorial Army, from 1984, following the formation of the new force are:
Year Strength Establishment 1984 317 n/a 1985 911 4,110 1986 3,005 4,200