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<p> </p><p>Following the Strategic Defence and Security Review, a three month exercise
was undertaken which examined a range of force structure options which built upon
analysis undertaken during the review. These options were then tested for their efficacy
against a wide range of scenarios. The options were then assessed by a senior judgement
panel, chaired by the Vice Chief of Defence Staff. Included in this panel were the
Assistant Chiefs of Staff for the Royal Navy, Army and royal Air Force. The panel
took decisions collectively and all members were fully involved and consulted.<br><br>In
July 2011 an Independent Commission to Review the UK's Reserve Forces, chaired by
my hon. Friend, the member for Canterbury and Whitstable (Julian Brazier) and General
Sir Nicholas Houghton, then set a target of 30,000 for a trained Army Reserve. This
judgement was reached in the knowledge that the strength of the Territorial Army had
been over 70,000 in the 1980s. <br><br>Subsequent work was then undertaken to establish
the timescales to build the trained strength of the Army Reserve to 30,000. This was
set out in the Written Ministerial Statement and paper placed in the Library of the
House by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence (Philip Hammond)
on 19 December 2013 (Official Report, column 124WS).</p>
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