§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army personnel are on active service; and how many are expected to be on active service over the Christmas period.[138440]
§ Mr. CaplinAs at 1 September 2003, 4,160 members of the Territorial Army (TA) were mobilised, either on operations abroad, or in support of those operations in the United Kingdom.
It is estimated that 1,600 members of the TA will be on active service over the Christmas period. This figure does not include those individuals who, although still compulsorily mobilised, have returned home from active service but not yet completed their post operational tour leave.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the Territorial Army in Iraq. [138441]
§ Mr. CaplinThe Territorial Army (TA) undertake any and every task that is performed by their regular armed forces counterparts and are present throughout British Army units in Iraq. This is entirely in accordance with the Strategic Defence Review which set out a requirement for the TA to become a more integrated, relevant, useable force, better able to support their Regular counterparts on operations overseas.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of the change in the number of annual training days in the Territorial Army on(a) morale, (b) retention and (c) recruitment; [138443]
(2) how the change in the number of annual Territorial Army training days will affect the pay of (a) privates and (b) majors in the TA. [138442]
§ Mr. CaplinIt has been assessed that the change in the numbers of annual training days in the Territorial Army being put in place will have no significant effect on morale, retention and recruitment.
The change will not affect the pay of privates or majors in the Territorial Army, nor will it impact on the ability of members of the Territorial Army to earn their annual bounty payment.