Government considers laws to stop discrimination against soldiers

The government is considering new laws to stop companies discriminating against potential recruits who say they are members of the Territorial Army, the Ministry of Defence confirmed this morning.

The move is part of a package of measures to boost the TA to be announced by defence secretary Philip Hammond later this week.

Other measures could be two weeks' paid 'reserve leave' for TA soldiers employed in the public sector.

Further proposals understood to be under consideration are compensation for businesses when employees are on operations and a kite mark to show that companies support the TA.

The Times reported today that Hammond would set out his vision on Thursday for a 'greatly enhanced Reserve Force' and the recruitment of a 'new wave of quality part-time soldiers'.

A new recruitment system, with the same procedures for TA and regular soldiers, will be introduced in April next year, the newspaper said.

As a further incentive for employers, there would be special events for those regarded as 'TA-friendly', hosted by senior politicians and members of the Royal Family.

A spokeswoman for the MOD said the government would spend £1.8bn over the next ten years 'to improve Reservist training, equipment and recruitment'.

She said it was 'absolutely right' that there should be a common recruitment policy for all soldiers, regular and reserve, to ensure they were 'selected and trained to the same high standard'.