Britain's readiness for war will be examined by MPs as the world becomes “more dangerous”, it was announced today.
Parliament's Commons Defence Select Committee said its investigation will “examine a range of factors influencing combat readiness, including supplies and stockpiles and regular and reserve force numbers”.
Committee chairman, Tory MP and former Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood, said: “The world is becoming more dangerous, not less.
“In this inquiry we will examine the UK’s current state of combat readiness – both our strengths and potential weaknesses.
“Our service personnel are amongst the most skilled and highly trained in the world and this inquiry will ask what impact cuts to numbers and funding may have on their ability to respond to new or escalating conflicts.
“We’ll also ask how the UK Government can address any shortfalls and which gaps must be given urgency.”
Ministers were heavily criticised for plans announced in March 2021 to slash Army troops numbers by 9,500 to just 72,500 and scrap a third of the Army’s Challenger 2 main battle tanks.
The cuts came in an Integrated Review of security, defence and foreign affairs.
The cuts could still be reversed when a Defence Command Paper is unveiled later this year.
But critics fear those that have already taken place will harm the UK’s ability to wage war.
The committee’s inquiry comes as fighting rages in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, British nationals are trapped in the middle of vicious gun battles in Sudan and China continues to threaten Taiwan.
Mr Ellwood said: “In an increasingly unpredictable and volatile world, our armed forces need the ability to respond to crises at a moment’s notice.
“Maintaining robust combat readiness isn’t just a matter for active wartime – readiness is a vital deterrent against future conflict.
“From the cuts to boots on the ground, to a decrease in real terms funding and potential capability gaps on the horizon, concern around our ability to respond to provocation is understandably high.
“Even the Secretary of State for Defence himself has described the British Army as ‘hollowed out’, and there have been suggestions that the United States no longer view us as a top tier fighting force.”
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