MP Jesse Norman argues the government should not replace 13 Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations with one national public body, warning that reorganisation could weaken local ties. The Armed Forces Bill proposing the change is before the House of Lords.
The associations support 32,000 reservists and 140,000 cadets, managing reserve centres and cadet huts and working with employers. A 2019 review recommended amalgamation. The National Audit Office later identified legal and financial weaknesses, including in financial reporting and the Ministry of Defence’s ability to intervene if an association fails, but said they could be addressed by strengthening the existing model.
Ministers say the new body would retain local knowledge and voluntary participation through regional councils, but Norman questions what powers those councils would have. He wants Parliament to get answers on setup and running costs, local decision-making, effects on recruitment and retention, and whether volunteers and Lord-Lieutenants were consulted before the bill completes its passage.
