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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army personnel will be (a) allocated to the European Rapid Reaction Force, (b) able to be deployed with the European Rapid Reaction Force at any given time and (c) removed from availability for home defence as a result of such allocation and deployment; and if he will make a statement. [143691] Dr. Moonie: There is no such entity as a standing European Rapid Reaction Force. The UK has identified a pool of forces and capabilities which would enable it to make a powerful contribution to such operations in support of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy, where NATO as a whole is not engaged. UK participation in any particular operation, and the nature of our contribution (including any potential use of the Territorial Army), would be matters for decision by the UK Government in the light of circumstances at the time. Our aim in restructuring the TA was to make it more integrated with regular forces and defence plans, with a shift in emphasis away from the TA's traditional home defence roles to other such as signallers, artillery, air defence, logisticians and particularly medical services. Maximum numbers deployed with regulars would depend on the nature and scale of the operation.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

360 c252-3W; 143691

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Deployment EU countries Reserve forces Territorial Army Rapid reaction forces

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk