§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department provides to Territorial Army soldiers returning from overseas duty to secure employment. [145744]
§ Mr. CaplinReservists who are called out into permanent service benefit from employment protection under the Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985. Under Section 1 of that Act an employer is required to take back into his employment former employees who have completed called-out service. Should an employer fail to reinstate a reservist in accordance with the provisions of that Act, the reservist may apply to a Reinstatement Committee to hear his case. The Reinstatement Committee can order the employer to reinstate the reservist, or to pay compensation, or both. Failure to comply with an order of a Reinstatement Committee is a criminal offence, and an employer may be fined on summary conviction. All reservists are advised of this process on call out.