THE Prime Minister has given an "absolute" assurance that the armed forces will not be cut to as few as 60,000 soldiers while he is Prime Minister.

The Liberal Democrat MP Sir Nick Harvey, who was Armed Forces minister until 2012, said possible cuts were being tested because the defence budget was likely to be badly hit again by austerity cuts made by any new parliament. In the Commons Sir Gerald Howarth, a Tory MP, asked for an assurance that such claims are "totally unfounded" and that "no such cuts will be contemplated." Mr Cameron responded: "I can absolutely give him that assurance. These ideas are absolutely not on the table and as long as I am Prime Minister the regular army will stay at its present size."

Under the Government’s current Army reforms, the number of regular soldiers is already being cut from 102,000 to 82,000, while the number of reservists is growing to 30,000.

The Ministry of Defence denied it was looking at further reductions and said the Prime Minister was committed to maintaining the Army at its 82,000 level.

But Sir Nick later stood by his claims and maintained he had been told by several sources that possible reductions were being analysed in preparation for this year’s defence review.

More cuts to the Army attacked as “foolhardy in the extreme”. Military leaders fear a defence review scheduled for after the election will see a repeat of 2010’s drastic cuts to the military budget.

A MoD spokeswoman said: "There is no change to the Government’s existing plans for an Army of 82,500 while increasing the number of reserves. And there is no work underway to look at further reductions. Indeed, the PM recently reiterated his commitment to maintaining regular forces at the level they are now.”

All of this comes at a time when it has recently been reported that there is to be a drastic reduction in the number of senior officers in the Army.

THE following are being specially remembered at Bradford Cathedral this week: Kenneth Markwell, George Robert Marshall, Frank Marshall, Colin Marshall, Richard Martindale, John Alexander Martin, Leslie Mason, Bert Massen, John Kenneth Mawson, Wilfred May, Edward Barr McDowell, Eric McGowan, Richard McMahon, Eric Mellor, George Thomas Mellor, Gordon Merrall, Harry Messer, Leslie Mitchell, David Midgley, Kenneth Midgley, Milner Norman, Arthur Cautley Mitchell, Neville Jervaise Milburn.

Today, The Yorkshire Volunteers Association meets at 19.30hrs at Keighley Drill Hall, The Royal British Legion, Bradford Central Branch, meets at 13.00hrs at Unit 16, Listerhills Science Park.

Wednesday, The Russian Convoy Club meets at 11.30hrs at Eastborough Working Mens Club, Dewsbury, The Royal British Legion, Low Moor and Wyke Branch, meets at 20.00hrs at The Harold Club, Wyke.

Thursday, The Submariners Association meets at 20.00hrs at Tong Street Conservative Club.

Monday, The Royal Naval Association, Skipton Branch, meets at 20.00hrs at The White Rose Club, Skipton.

Tuesday, The Parachute Regiment Association meets at 20.00hrs at Thornbury Barracks.