A GOVERNMENT minister is on a fact-finding visit to Teesside today to investigate an MP's claims that a base used by weekend soldiers is in need of a facelift.

Defence Minister Lewis Moonie is visiting the Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, base of the local Terroritorial Army (TA) Reserve, after a speech Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar made in the House of Commons.

Dr Kumar said: "I invited Dr Moonie to visit the centre after a recent House of Commons debate on the work of the TA. In that debate I pointed out the valuable work the TA and local cadets do - both in terms of their direct role as part of Britain's military preparedness and locally, as servicemen and cadets who do a lot for the local community and for local charities.''

He added: "I also argued that the local TA and cadet centres needed new investment so as to keep the buildings in good condition.

"Good training can only be done in good surroundings and I would want to put the case for this investment directly to the minister, who, I know, takes a keen interest in these matters.''

Under-Secretary of State for Defence Dr Moonie will tour the TA centre in Ridgeway, Coulby Newham, accompanied by Dr Kumar.

There, he will meet soldiers from 168 Pioneer Regiment and the Green Howards Company of the Tyne Tees Regiment and see their work.

Dr Moonie said: "At present we have about 1,000 TA soldiers working alongside their regular counterparts and bringing with them many different and specialist skills.

"The Territorial Army plays a vital role both in the UK, assisting the community during a crisis such as flooding or fighting foot-and-mouth disease or on operations in countries throughout the world. As one of the largest training organisations in Europe we constantly strive to improve our facilities and that will be one of the topics covered during my visit to Coulby Newham.''

The minister will also meet and talk to youngsters in the Cleveland Army Cadet Force and the Central and East Yorkshire Wing of the Air Training Corps.