THE VOLUNTEER RESERVES (Hansard, 17 June 1993)

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Viscount Cranborne)

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence has been giving careful consideration to the future roles of the reserve forces in the changed strategic circumstances now prevailing. I am now in a position to announce to the House proposals covering the Royal Navy's reserve forces and the RAF reserve forces. The study covering the Territorial Army is still in preparation and will be the subject of a further announcement in due course. There may also be further proposals for the RAF reserve forces as a result of current studies. All proposals are subject to a period of consultation.

The change in the international situation means volunteer reserve forces are no longer required for certain current roles. There is, however, the opportunity to introduce new roles for the reserves, and most importantly to plan to use them more fully in operational roles in peacetime.

As far as the Royal Navy is concerned, there are no current plans to change existing arrangements for the Royal Marine Reserve. However, we do propose a number of changes to the Royal Navy's Volunteer Reserve Forces.

In the light of the reduced threat and extended warning times the Royal Navy has concluded that standing reserve forces need no longer be allocated to the Defence of Ports and Anchorages and Naval 88WA Control of Shipping (NCS) around the UK, apart from a small capability for possible short-notice deployment overseas. This removes the need for 710 RNR personnel and all but 135 Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (RNXS) ratings. As a result it is proposed with regret that the RNXS should be disbanded, although there will be an opportunity for up to 135 RNXS personnel with suitable skills in NCS to join the RNR.

It is also proposed that the River class of Minesweepers, Fleet should be withdrawn from the RNR; the Soviet threat from deep moored mines they were designed to counter has ended, and their capabilities have been overtaken by advances in other aspects of mine countermeasures warfare and technology. The role will be fulfilled by more modern RN vessels.

Furthermore, I am delighted to announce that we propose to establish a seagoing branch of 500 RNR personnel training in all types of RN ships, not just Mine Countermeasure vessels. The RNR would thus maintain a seagoing capability and become more closely integrated operationally with the Royal Navy.

The net effect of these changes is that the RNR will reduce from 4,700 to about 3,500 and the number of RNR units throughout the UK will reduce to 13. Overall some 200 civilian staff and employees would be affected and the department would make every effort to try to find alternative employment elsewhere for them. Regrettably this may not always be possible. Any staff made redundant would be compensated under the appropriate regulations, and would be entitled to use the services of the MoD redundancy counselling and outplacement service.

As regards the Air Force reserves, it is proposed to disband No. 1339 Wing RAuxAF and No. 2623 (East Anglian) Squadron RAuxAF. In addition, it is not now considered necessary to expand the RAuxAF Defence Force flights as previously planned. However it is proposed that RAuxAF personnel should perform a new role by filling about half the posts in two regular RAF Regiment Squadrons equipped with Rapier missiles. Furthermore it is proposed to amalgamate those parts of the RAF volunteer reserve which have a war role with the RAuxAF, thereby producing a more streamlined organisation for war.

Taken together, these proposals would lead to a net reduction of about 180 Royal Auxiliary Air Force posts.

The full details of the proposals are set out in two consultative documents which I have placed in the Library of the House. Responses have been invited by 30th July; no final decisions will be taken until the consultative process is complete.