'REBALANCING' SHOULD NOT MEAN REDUNDANCY

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st Jul 2004

Responding to Geoff Hoon's statement that one Scottish battalion is to be axed and other regiments are to be merged, Liberal Democrat spokesman for Scottish Affairs, John Thurso said:

"History has demonstrated again and again that there is no substitute for well trained and well equipped troops.

It is a scandal that the appalling record of procurement of high tech gadgetry by this Government should only serve to weaken our already overstretched and debilitated fighting personnel.

At a time when this Government seems intent on committing the United Kingdom to new military enterprises throughout the globe it is quite ludicrous to be carrying out reductions of this kind.

This announcement is quite frankly an insult to the proud tradition and record of military service by Scots over many generations.

Hopefully Hoon will be reshuffled - this has to be the last desperate act by a desperate Minister."