Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Regular Army Reserve of Officers will play any role in his plans for an expanded Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement.

The Regular Army Reserve of Officers allows the Army to recall individuals who have previously served in the Army to assist in the nation’s defence and provide a national strategic Reserve capability. Under Army 2020 the Regular Army Reserve of Officers will, as now, provide a valuable pool of skills and expertise that can be called upon as and when a situation of national crisis demands it. There are no plans to change the role of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers as part of the plans to increase the size of the Army Reserve to 30,000 as the two are constituted for different roles and capabilities.