|
Certain Scottish regiments have been under threat of disbandment for a couple of years - reports in the news in Scotland suggest that this is actively being looked at again....
Regiments rumoured to be under threat the KOSBs, the Royal Scots and the Black Watch (although the latest rumour circulating is that the latter 2 may be amalgamated into one regiment)
www.news.bbc.co.uk
Battle lines drawn on regiments
The UK military looks set for change
The axe may fall on up to two Scottish regiments in the wake of a government spending review, it has been claimed.
The speculation came after the Ministry of Defence confirmed that fewer recruits were being accepted into full time Army training in Scotland.
But officials have denied a "temporary ceiling" on training capacity was part of a running down of the regiments.
It is understood that Chancellor Gordon Brown wants the defence budget cut by more £1bn.
The MoD has also confirmed that the Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon will make a statement and that "tough choices" have to be made.
No 'concrete' plans
This has led to mounting speculation that Scotland will have one "super-regiment" in the future.
Opposition politicians are furious at the prospect of fewer soldiers, especially after the war in Iraq.
MoD officials have confirmed that recruitment targets have been cut for the moment, but insist the two issues are not linked.
A spokesman said that at the moment there were no "concrete" plans to disband or amalgamate any regiments.
Look where we're using our forces... cutting back the numbers would be very foolish
Sir Timothy Garden, a defence analyst with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and former assistant chief of defence staff, said he believed the cuts would go ahead.
He told BBC Radio Scotland: "There is no doubt that a lot of preliminary work has been done into how they would manage with the amount of money they are expecting to get."
But he forecast problems with a cut in troop numbers.
He added: "The development of more precise weapons suggests that you can get by with fewer people operating the systems and perhaps fewer troops on the ground.
"But as we've seen in Iraq, the big problem comes with what happens after the war. The British military spend more of their time looking after places after a conflict, or perhaps in places trying to prevent a conflict, and that needs lots of troops on the ground.
"Those of us that argue that cuts to the Army would be very foolish are saying look where we're using our forces - they are already overstretched - cutting back the numbers would be very foolish."
Another BBC report
No guarantees for Scots troops
Scots regiments have been serving in Iraq
The defence secretary has refused to rule out cuts or amalgamations in Scotland's Army regiments.
Geoff Hoon said no decisions had been taken on their future.
Mr Hoon was speaking in the Commons at the launch of the government's white paper which sets out the future of the armed forces.
Answering questions from Scottish MPs, Mr Hoon said no decision had been taken on the future make-up of Army regiments but that would come next year.
The minister said he would be willing to discuss the matter with all MPs.
New light brigade
Outlining the Defence White Paper, Mr Hoon said the Army needed to move to "a more appropriately balanced structure" of light, medium and heavy forces.
In the future the UK's Armed Forces would be expected to be able to deal with "multiple, concurrent small to medium sized" missions, he said.
The Army would establish a new light brigade, reducing the number of armoured brigades from three to two.
Critics have accused the government is simply trying to save money.
He fuelled speculation and has left Scottish soldiers in a continuing limbo by refusing to rule out the amalgamation or disbandment of any regiments
Scottish National Party defence spokesman Angus Robertson said he feared for Scotland's infantry regiments.
Mr Robertson said: "The minister failed to provide assurances that Scottish regiments will not be merged or disbanded, with decisions due in the New Year, and this will create further uncertainty and worry for many Scottish service personnel and their families."
Scottish Liberal Democrat member Michael Moore also voiced doubts.
He said: "The defence secretary had the opportunity to end months of damaging uncertainty over the future of the Scottish regiments.
"Instead he fuelled speculation and has left Scottish soldiers in a continuing limbo by refusing to rule out the amalgamation or disbandment of any regiments."
Last month newspaper reports suggested that The Royal Scots and the Black Watch could be wound up following the withdrawal of 9,000 troops from Northern Ireland in 2005.
|
Threat To Disband 2 Scottish Regiments, the ongoing saga.......
