The plan is to reduce the Highland TA strength by 200 infantrymen and the Lowlands TA by 100 infantrymen. This will create two rifle battalions who could be available as back-up for the regular forces.

Scotland has almost 4000 TA troops. This includes nine infantry companies in two battalions, with detachments of men located across the whole of the country.

The new Royal Regiment of Scotland is to have both TA infantry units attached to them. This will provide a pool of reinforcements for any future operations.

Under the new system, each TA unit would be alerted two years in advance that it will be required to provide up to 400 personnel to support its regular affiliated unit - should that unit be deployed anywhere in the world.

TA personnel will have no choice but to deploy, as and when they are required. This includes being on call for dealing with the aftermath of a terrorist attack and for assisting local authorities in the event of a natural disaster.

This reduction of the part-time infantry is being done to allow volunteers to fill the requirement in communications, intelligence and logistics, should these posts be under-staffed in the regular services.

An officer commented, "That would have a disastrous impact not only on local recruitment but would leave local authorities scrambling for trained back-up in the event of another Lockerbie. We could be left with little or no military presence in the Borders and parts of the Highlands."