Reserve Forces

Debate between Lord Mayhew of Twysden and Lord Astor of Hever

Wednesday 3rd July 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Astor of Hever]

My Lords, we are looking at this area very closely. As I said, we take the relationship with the employers very seriously, and this is one of the ideas under consideration.

[Lord Mayhew of Twysden]

My Lords, will my noble friend come back to the question of retention? If the reserve units are to be fully integrated into the Regular Forces, does it not follow that if their members do not step up to the plate when called on to do so, the Regular Forces concerned will be deficient in their capability? Can he think a little further as to whether what he says he has great confidence in ought not to be toughened up with something more enforceable?

[Lord Astor of Hever]

My Lords, I repeat that I am confident. As I understand it, retention in the reserves, particularly the Army reserves, is very much higher than in the regulars. I do not have the figures in front of me, but I was told before I came into the Chamber that retention in the reserves is considerably higher than in the regulars. I can write to my noble and learned friend with the figures.

Defence Transformation

Debate between Lord Mayhew of Twysden and Lord Astor of Hever

Monday 18th July 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Astor of Hever]

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his contribution. I know what a distinguished officer he was, both in the regular Army and the reserves. Indeed, the noble Lord looked very military in his regimental tie laying a wreath at the Cenotaph yesterday.

I am grateful for the noble Lord’s welcome of the 70:30 ratio from his experience of living in the United States. Of course, we understand the value of service in the reserves and will do our very best to ensure that sufficient resources are given to the reserves to make this all possible.

[Lord Mayhew of Twysden]

My Lords, in the rebalancing of the Army into multi-role brigades, is any role to be retained for the main battle tank? If there is, where will the training for it be able to be done, one wonders, with the loss of the training grounds in Germany. If there is not to be any role for it, what consequential plans are there for those regiments at present equipped with or trained for the use of Challenger?

[Lord Astor of Hever]

My Lords, I can confirm that we will have fewer numbers of Challenger 2 tanks, but we very much value their use. There is of course the training area on Salisbury Plain—where I spent many happy hours. We are also in discussions with the Scottish Executive about the use of some land in Scotland for training.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Debate between Lord Mayhew of Twysden and Lord Astor of Hever

Wednesday 2nd March 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Astor of Hever]

My Lords, I can assure the noble and gallant Lord that that is the case. As he will remember, during the SDSR the Prime Minister made it absolutely clear that 2020 will be achievable only if we get more money.

[Lord Mayhew of Twysden]

My Lords, will my noble friend clear up an additional matter about redundancy? The Statement says:

“The Army and RAF will give individuals notice that they will be made redundant on 1 September followed by the Navy on 30 September. The exact timing of further tranches has not yet been decided”.

Does this mean that in the Army and Navy, after 1 September and 30 September respectively, there will remain people who do not know whether the threat of redundancy will materialise for them? If it does not mean that, will he kindly say what it does mean?

[Lord Astor of Hever]

My Lords, it depends on who comes forward for voluntary redundancy. At this stage, it is too early to be able to answer that question.