Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when a decision will be taken on the long-term future of Army Reserve bases which had originally been scheduled to be closed in 2016.

The previous Defence Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), outlined changes to streamline the Army Reserve structure under the Future Reserves 2020 plan on 3 July 2013 (Official Report: Column 49WS).

The result of this plan was that a number of Army Reserve Centres were identified as surplus to Army requirements and would therefore be closed. Since then plans to pair Reserve units with Regular units have been developed and the Army has undertaken further work to ensure the optimum geographical footprint is in place. This work has taken into account recruiting performance, long term value for money and the delivery of operational capability. As a result of this work some units previously scheduled for closure will now remain open. Others may also remain open, subject to significantly improved recruiting performance before 2016. Members affected by these changes will be notified at the time and I intend to keep Parliament updated on these changes on an annual basis.