Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ann McKechin and Ian Lavery

Monday 4th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Ann McKechin (Glasgow North) (Lab)]

1. What assessment he has made of the level of recruitment to the reserve forces in 2013 to date.

[Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab)]

13. What assessment he has made of the level of recruitment to the reserve forces in 2013 to date.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond)]

May I first welcome the hon. Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) to his new role and congratulate him on his appointment? I hope that, in the interests of Britain’s armed forces, we will be able to have a constructive relationship, as he quite properly holds me to account for the decisions of this Government, and I hold him to account for the decisions of the last one.

When the previous Administration took office in 1997, the Territorial Army was more than 50,000 strong. By the time they left office in 2010, that figure had halved. That pattern of decline has been arrested, and the strength has now been stabilised. Recruitment figures for the first three quarters of 2013 are due to be published by Defence Analytical Services and Advice on 14 November. This is a new data series, and quarterly figures will be published thereafter.