Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
25 of 30 infantry battalions face troops shortage
Tories ‘happy to continue slicing forces’
BADLY HIT BATTALIONS
1st Scots Guards
REQUIREMENT
691 260 1st Welsh Guards ............................. 499 .................. 115 1st Coldstream Guards .................. 592 .................. 105 2nd Parachute Regiment ............. 595 .................... 49
tary Nia Griffith said: “With Britain facing growing security challenges, it’s unacceptable that the Government is refusing to get a grip on this crisis.
“The Tories’ ideological obsession with outsourcing every service to the private sector led to the disastrous 2012 contract with Capita, which is failing in its job of recruiting personnel
SHORTAGE (37%) (25%) (23%) (20%) (18%) (10%) (8%)
for the Army. A Labour government will scrap that and bring recruitment back in house to be delivered by forces staff who know what they’re doing.”
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has admitted to the departmental Commons committee that troop numbers had been “atrocious” since Capita won the contract, which runs till 2022. Lt Gen Richard Nugee, the Chief of Defence People, told MPS: “We want to improve the contract, acknowledging that it has not been good but also that it’s not all Capita’s fault.
“As part of a simultaneous exercise we are looking at the implications of breaking the contract early.” Defence Minister Mark Lancaster told the House when grilled about the crisis: “Applications are at a five-year high. There are very positive signs indeed.”
The MOD said: “Units are working toward required levels. There will be some disparity between workforce needs and strengths.”