Four Army bases to be closed

7:33 pm, Tue 05 Mar 2013

Government aiming to 'limit' further military cuts

Speaking to ITV News, the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond did not rule out further cuts to the defence budget. But he said the Government would aim to limit any reductions.

It follows his suggestion at the weekend that the government may look to cuts in the welfare budget instead.

5:17 pm, Tue 05 Mar 2013

Government 'generating cynicism' among Armed Forces

Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy says the historic bond between the army battalions and the towns where they have been stationed will be broken by the closure of four barracks. Mr Murphy claimed the Government had only succeeded in creating a great deal of cynicism in the Armed Forces.

Stephen Crabb: Signals will not move for at least five years

Stephen Crabb is a Welsh Office Minister and represents the constituency of Preseli Pembrokeshire, home to Cawdor Barracks.

3:17 pm, Tue 05 Mar 2013 Meridian

Barracks to close: reaction from Kent MP

Army review: Our Political Correspondent Phil Hornby talked to Julian Brazier, Conservative MP for Canterbury, about the closure of Howe Barracks.

2:41 pm, Tue 05 Mar 2013

'Little impact' on operations after UK return

Major Dan Howard says moving back to the UK will have little impact on the way British forces train and prepare for operations.

2:32 pm, Tue 05 Mar 2013

'Time is right' for British troops to leave Germany

During his Army career, Sergeant Ben Peden has spent 7 years in Germany. But he said the time was right for troops to head back to Britain.

11,000 troops based in Germany to return home by 2016

Around 11,000 British troops based in Germany will return home by 2016
Nearly £2 billion will be invested in Army housing and bases
The remaining 4,500 troops will be back in the UK by 2019, a year earlier than planned

Around £1 billion of the funding being announced today will be go towards 1,900 new houses for service families and accommodation for 7,800 single soldiers
Another £800 million will be spent on infrastructure and refurbishment of bases

2:16 pm, Tue 05 Mar 2013

Army changes to save '£240 million a year'

The Defence Secretary says the changes will save £240 million a year in running costs as soldiers are moved into "clusters" in key locations. Returning forces will mainly be stationed around Salisbury Plain, Edinburgh and Leuchars, Catterick, Aldershot, Colchester, Stafford and the East Midlands.

Howe Barracks in Canterbury, one of the bases facing closure Credit: Press Association

2:10 pm, Tue 05 Mar 2013

'Costed plan' to bring Army back from Germany

This announcement represents a costed and funded plan to bring our Army back from Germany... and provide the accommodation our troops deserve fulfilling our commitments to consolidate the Army estate and providing certainty to Army personnel and their families about where they will be based in the future.

– Philip Hammond, Defence Secretary

2:05 pm, Tue 05 Mar 2013

Defence Secretary confirms plans to close bases

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has confirmed plans to press ahead with the closure of:

Howe Barracks in Canterbury
Claro Barracks, in Ripon, North Yorkshire
Craigiehall Barracks in Edinburgh
Cawdor Barracks in Brawdy in Pembrokeshire

Elements of Redford Barracks, Edinburgh; Forthside Barracks, Stirling; and Copthorne Barracks, Shrewsbury