TERRITORIAL ARMY

That this House expresses its continued support for the role of the Territorial Army; notes that the reserve forces have contributed some 20,000 personnel to operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans since 2002, most of them from the Territorial Army, and that 14 Territorials have died on those operations; further notes that TA units live by the professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment of their members; expresses the hope that the recent decision to suspend most paid training in the Territorial Army over the next six months is reconsidered; and further notes that the £23 million saving achieved will be around one per cent. of the contingency reserve allocated to the war in Afghanistan, yet reserves form over five per cent. of those currently deployed there.