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.
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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.
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'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
UK to withdraw 11,000 troops from Germany by 2016
Around 11,000 British troops based in Germany will return home by 2016 under plans which will see nearly £2 billion invested in Army housing and bases, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond will announce today.
Under the speeded-up withdrawal, the remaining 4,500 troops will be back in the UK by 2019, a year earlier than planned.
Around £1bn of the funding being announced today will 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.
The Government hopes the plans will mean more cash is ploughed back into the British, rather than German, economy as well as creating new construction jobs in the UK.
Savings of around £240 million a year are also expected to be made through reductions in operating costs.
Hammond to announce future of German army bases
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond will unveil his plans for a large scale withdrawal of UK troops from Germany later today.
The 15,000-strong British Army of the Rhine has been in Germany since 1945 and was due to return by 2020.
The Daily Express is reporting that the majority of soldiers will be withdrawn by 2016, with the last 4,500 due back in 2019.
Another 17,000 MoD employees will come back over the same period.