Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Army Reserve

02 February 2022 · 2 other contributors

Opened by Richard Bacon Con South Norfolk

Defence

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Richard Bacon raised concerns about army reserve in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • MP for South Norfolk expressed concern over the planned reduction of Army Reserve from 30,100 to 27,100 trained personnel.
  • Minister Leo Docherty acknowledged concerns and noted the reduction figure does not include personnel in other Defence units or in training.
  • Docherty stated the restructuring aims to enhance deployability and availability of the reserve, moving beyond a focus on numerical strength.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Richard Bacon Con South Norfolk

The MP for South Norfolk expressed concern about a reduction in the Army Reserve despite its critical role in national security and recent operations. He highlighted that while there was an expectation of deployment when joining, the current plans to cut the reserve from 30,100 to 27,100 trained personnel threaten these objectives. Richard Bacon also raised issues regarding the erosion of combat unit structures, inadequate recruitment strategy, and a lack of resources for officer training corps. He stressed that effective reserves depend on formed bodies which build comradeship and readiness. Additionally, he questioned the Ministry's handling of reserve basing, recruitment practices, and command opportunities for junior officers.

Other contributors (2)
  • Adam Holloway Con Gravesham

    He agreed with Richard Bacon’s concerns about the reduction in the Army Reserve and highlighted Northern Ireland's disproportionate contribution to reserves.

  • Philip Hammond Con Right Hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford

    He emphasised the importance of reserve forces, their central role in national security, and their current work during the pandemic.

Government Response

Leo Docherty

Minister Leo Docherty acknowledged the concerns raised by Richard Bacon. He noted that while the Army Reserve will be reduced to 27,100 trained personnel, this figure does not include those in other Defence units or undergoing training, thus maintaining a similar overall strength. The restructuring aims to improve deployability and availability rather than solely focusing on numbers. Docherty highlighted the reserve's role in delivering potent and deployable support for regular units through augmentation, citing historical operational successes. He also addressed recruitment strategies, emphasising that opportunities for command roles will increase under the integrated review and Future Soldier programme. The Minister committed to publishing a report from the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA) as requested by the MP.

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