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UK armed forces to undergo further 1,060 job cuts UK armed forces to undergo further 1,060 job cuts
(35 minutes later)
The Ministry of Defence is to announce 1,060 armed forces redundancies in its fourth and final round of cuts. The Ministry of Defence has announced 1,060 armed forces redundancies in its fourth and final round of cuts.
As a result, 995 service personnel will leave the Army, 10 will go from the Royal Navy and 55 from the RAF.As a result, 995 service personnel will leave the Army, 10 will go from the Royal Navy and 55 from the RAF.
The cuts are part of the government's Strategic Defence and Security Review, known as Army 2020. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the cuts - part of the government's Strategic Defence and Security Review, called Army 2020 - "were unavoidable".
The National Audit Office has warned that plans to scale back the Army and increase reservists have "significant risks" to its operational abilities. The National Audit Office has warned that plans to cut the Army and increase reservists have "significant risks".
Since 2011, just over 12,000 service personnel have been made redundant, Mr Hammond said the announcement "marks the end to a period of uncertainty and doubt for our personnel" and will address the "blackhole" in 2010's defence budget.
He said the announcement will allow "greater certainty for armed forces personnel going forward".
'Challenges'
"It is with great regret that we have had to make redundancies to reduce the size of the armed forces, but unfortunately they were unavoidable," he added.
General Sir Nicholas Haughton, chief of the defence staff, said the cuts would present "opportunities and challenges" and vowed to support military personnel who will leave the armed forces.
Since 2011, more than 12,000 service personnel have been made redundant.
The restructuring programme was set out in the coalition's strategic review in 2010.The restructuring programme was set out in the coalition's strategic review in 2010.
The regular Army will be reduced from 102,000 in 2010 to 82,000 in 2018, while the reserves will go up to 30,000.The regular Army will be reduced from 102,000 in 2010 to 82,000 in 2018, while the reserves will go up to 30,000.
It is hoped savings of £10.6bn will be made as a result.It is hoped savings of £10.6bn will be made as a result.
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the number of redundancies being made this time is smaller than originally feared.BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the number of redundancies being made this time is smaller than originally feared.
Almost three-quarters of those taking redundancy were volunteers, meaning they will leave the armed forces in December.Almost three-quarters of those taking redundancy were volunteers, meaning they will leave the armed forces in December.
Those facing compulsory redundancy will leave next June.Those facing compulsory redundancy will leave next June.
The National Audit Office, which is the spending watchdog, issued a report on Wednesday, stating that the decision to reduce the size of the Army was taken without "appropriate testing of feasibility".The National Audit Office, which is the spending watchdog, issued a report on Wednesday, stating that the decision to reduce the size of the Army was taken without "appropriate testing of feasibility".
It also suggested the move to raise the numbers of reservists from the current 19,400 to 30,000 by 2018 could be delayed until 2025.It also suggested the move to raise the numbers of reservists from the current 19,400 to 30,000 by 2018 could be delayed until 2025.