First Day

Part of Defence – in the House of Commons at 6:14 pm on 14 October 1991.

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Photo of Mr Martin O'Neill Mr Martin O'Neill Shadow Secretary of State 6:14, 14 October 1991

We will get the figure eventually, although the right hon. Gentleman tells me from a sedentary position that he does not have it tonight. Certainly, it is being suggested that as much as 40 per cent. of the force —rather than the 20 per cent. originally implied—will be made up from the Territorial Army. Apparently, there are to be cuts of between 10,000 and 15,000 in the TA's forces. As my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Springburn (Mr. Martin) pointed out, there are grave anxieties about the manner in which some of the TA cuts are to be carried out. Scotland and the northern third of the country generally will be affected. North of Liverpool, there will be no recruitment of paras for the TA. That suggests a strange set of national priorities.