As the training cycle tightens, it affects the quality of training and the opportunities for training. We agreed with the statement in the SDR that commitments should match planned resources, but we question whether resources are matching growing commitments. The Government recognise that overstretch remains a major problem, as the Minister confirmed today. Nevertheless, even before major deployments took place in the Balkans, MOD figures revealed that more than 36 per cent. As my hon.
Friend says, it is virtually impossible.
Ministers tell us that recruitment is up by 18 per cent. They point to a number of initiatives that have been undertaken as part of the SDR, which we welcome. However, the problem of overstretch remains and is getting worse. Only last week, the Secretary of State admitted that the Army is losing soldiers faster than it is recruiting them. The soldiers that it is losing are the trained, skilled ones, who are being replaced by raw recruits.