Member

I recall the Minister giving an undertaking to the Select Committee that he would take the suggestion away and look at it in more detail, in consultation with officials in his Department. We were therefore cautiously optimistic that that might lead to some change in the Government’s position. I heard what the Minister just said, but we have re-tabled this amendment to give him an opportunity to report back to the House on the fruit of those discussions. Given the strong hint that he dropped in Committee, I urge the Minister to think again on that, bearing in mind that the idea does not come from me or my right hon. and hon. Friends; it was the idea of serving reserve officers. I am passporting their plea to him to mobilise them more quickly, should the situation require it—it is as simple as that.