§ Mr. SternTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence approximately how many United Kingdom employers now release staff for service in the Territorial Army.
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§ Mr. NeubertIt is not at present possible to provide an accurate assessment of the number of employers who release staff for TA service. In addition to the willingness of men and women to offer their services, the need to harness the wholehearted support of employers has long been acknowledged. For this reason we launched a major campaign in September of last year not only with a prime aim of stressing the importance of the TA, but also of making employers aware of the benefits which may accrue from employees' participation, ie improved qualities of leadership, discipline, self-reliance, communications and the acquisition of personal skills. One of the major initiatives in the early stages of this campaign was the circulation of a letter from the chairman of the National Employer Liaison Committee, Mr. Tony MacPherson, to over 600 leading companies seeking an active commitment to the Reserve Forces. The response to this letter has been overwhelmingly positive.