SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
(a) We believe that,
with the obvious sensitivity surrounding the review of the TA,
and the political interest which it had generated, the MoD should
have handled the consultation process on the restructuring of
the TA more carefully. The Ministry of Defence has fallen below
the high standards it set itself during the SDR in its conduct
of this exercise. We recommend that the forthcoming review of
the Territorial and Auxiliary Volunteer Reserve Associations should
be used as an opportunity to demonstrate that the MoD is genuinely
seeking opinions on its proposals (paragraph 5).
(b) We recommend that
the MoD monitors closely the impact of the proposed new structure
on training, and if it becomes apparent that the proposed structure
is failing to deliver effectively, undertakes to increase the
establishment of individual units to such a level that can (paragraph
12).
(c) We consider it likely
that a smaller but better-trained TA will require a higher proportion
of Permanent Staff Instructors than it has had in the past. We
will hold the Minister to his assurance that the position will
be regularly reviewed and that should it become clear that training
is falling below levels necessary for the effectiveness of the
TA to be maintained, it will be increased (paragraph 13).
(d) We welcome the MoD's
partial response to this Committee's recommendation on the need
for an increased NBC capability and its modest recognition of
the potential role for the TA in civil defence against asymmetric
threats to the homeland (paragraph 15).
(e) Whilst we welcome
such training for Sponsored Reserves, we remain concerned that
Sponsored Reservists could not, in extremis, be expected to serve
as infantrymen. We look to the MoD to ensure that the military
training given to Sponsored Reserves is appropriate and relevant
to the task; in particular with regard to their proximity to the
front line (paragraph 22).
(f) The National
Employers Liaison Committee are in a position to provide valuable
assistance to the MoD in the establishment of this new form of
Reservist and we will expect to see evidence of thorough consultation
between the two organisations during the establishment of the
Sponsored Reserves (paragraph 24).
(g) We welcome, in principle,
the decision to expand the medical services which are a vital
part of the support service to the Army, but we are concerned
that the MoD may be overambitious in seeking to recruit 2,000
extra volunteer personnel in these areas (paragraph 28).
(h) The success of the
recruitment of medical reservists is reliant upon the MoD and
the Department of Health formulating coherent recruiting policies
and promoting the benefits of volunteer service. It is essential
to greatly improve the level of liaison between the MoD and the
Department of Health on the recruitment of volunteer medical reservists,
in particular at Ministerial level. We will monitor closely the
recruited strength of the medical services to see if the MoD are
successful in their objectives (paragraph 30).
(i) We expect the
MoD to be responsive to TAVRA advice on the disposal of TA centres,
and where that advice is found to be valid for it to be acted
upon by the MoD, even if this involves reconsidering individual
sites earmarked for sale. We also recommend some openness about
this process of consultation—we expect the Minister to be
able to defend choices made on 'political' rather than commercial
grounds (paragraph 34).
(j) We recommend
that control of the £12 million allocated to the Cadets should
be given to the TAVRAs, and that they should be free to invest
any savings accrued from this programme in upgrading and refurbishing
existing accommodation for the Cadets (paragraph 36).
(k) In reforming the
TAVRAs, the MoD must not lose sight of the fact that the Associations
are independent volunteer Associations and as such must be given
the opportunity to organise their own affairs by their own lights
to deliver what the Chain of Command asks from them. Imposing
co-terminous boundaries with the Regional Command on the Associations
will, we believe, serve to undermine the independence of the TAVRAs
and make them less efficient. We can see no benefits to the TAVRAs
in such a proposal (paragraph 41).
(l) Budgetary independence
is a cornerstone of the TAVRAs' independence and should not be
diminished. (Paragraph 43).
(m) We recommend that
the budgeting system for the TAVRAs allows them to retain for
their own use at least 50% of any efficiency savings made on their
annual budget and 100% of accruals from other income generating
activities (paragraph 45).
(n) We recommend that
the MoD implement our proposed system of reporting on the effects
of the restructuring process from March/April 1999 (paragraph
48).
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