Ministry of Defence

The far-reaching changes in this Defence Reform programme will help cut waste, boost British growth and jobs and fast track the technologies of the future into the hands of our frontline forces.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements for the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge.

The NAD Group will benefit from a streamlined approach to governance overseen by a Leadership Board. This will send reports and advice to senior committees, e.g. the Ministry of Defence Executive Committee; and will receive reports and advice from supporting committees e.g. its Challenge Board, Strategy and Policy Board, and management boards of Defence Support, and of the delivery and enabling organisations: Defence Equipment and Support; Defence Digital; Defence Infrastructure Organisation; and, Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, which are now part of the collective NAD Group, and whose heads will all sit on the NAD Group Leadership Board.

The far-reaching changes in this Defence Reform programme will help cut waste, boost British growth and jobs and fast track the technologies of the future into the hands of our frontline forces.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements for the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge.

The NAD Group will benefit from a streamlined approach to governance overseen by a Leadership Board. This will send reports and advice to senior committees, e.g. the Ministry of Defence Executive Committee; and will receive reports and advice from supporting committees e.g. its Challenge Board, Strategy and Policy Board, and management boards of Defence Support, and of the delivery and enabling organisations: Defence Equipment and Support; Defence Digital; Defence Infrastructure Organisation; and, Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, which are now part of the collective NAD Group, and whose heads will all sit on the NAD Group Leadership Board.

The far-reaching changes in this Defence Reform programme will help cut waste, boost British growth and jobs and fast track the technologies of the future into the hands of our frontline forces.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements for the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge.

The NAD Group will benefit from a streamlined approach to governance overseen by a Leadership Board. This will send reports and advice to senior committees, e.g. the Ministry of Defence Executive Committee; and will receive reports and advice from supporting committees e.g. its Challenge Board, Strategy and Policy Board, and management boards of Defence Support, and of the delivery and enabling organisations: Defence Equipment and Support; Defence Digital; Defence Infrastructure Organisation; and, Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, which are now part of the collective NAD Group, and whose heads will all sit on the NAD Group Leadership Board.

The far-reaching changes in this Defence Reform programme will help cut waste, boost British growth and jobs and fast track the technologies of the future into the hands of our frontline forces.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements for the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge.

The NAD Group will benefit from a streamlined approach to governance overseen by a Leadership Board. This will send reports and advice to senior committees, e.g. the Ministry of Defence Executive Committee; and will receive reports and advice from supporting committees e.g. its Challenge Board, Strategy and Policy Board, and management boards of Defence Support, and of the delivery and enabling organisations: Defence Equipment and Support; Defence Digital; Defence Infrastructure Organisation; and, Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, which are now part of the collective NAD Group, and whose heads will all sit on the NAD Group Leadership Board.

The far-reaching changes in this Defence Reform programme will help cut waste, boost British growth and jobs and fast track the technologies of the future into the hands of our frontline forces.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements for the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge.

The NAD Group will benefit from a streamlined approach to governance overseen by a Leadership Board. This will send reports and advice to senior committees, e.g. the Ministry of Defence Executive Committee; and will receive reports and advice from supporting committees e.g. its Challenge Board, Strategy and Policy Board, and management boards of Defence Support, and of the delivery and enabling organisations: Defence Equipment and Support; Defence Digital; Defence Infrastructure Organisation; and, Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, which are now part of the collective NAD Group, and whose heads will all sit on the NAD Group Leadership Board.

The far-reaching changes in this Defence Reform programme will help cut waste, boost British growth and jobs and fast track the technologies of the future into the hands of our frontline forces.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements for the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge.

The NAD Group will benefit from a streamlined approach to governance overseen by a Leadership Board. This will send reports and advice to senior committees, e.g. the Ministry of Defence Executive Committee; and will receive reports and advice from supporting committees e.g. its Challenge Board, Strategy and Policy Board, and management boards of Defence Support, and of the delivery and enabling organisations: Defence Equipment and Support; Defence Digital; Defence Infrastructure Organisation; and, Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, which are now part of the collective NAD Group, and whose heads will all sit on the NAD Group Leadership Board.

The far-reaching changes in this Defence Reform programme will help cut waste, boost British growth and jobs and fast track the technologies of the future into the hands of our frontline forces.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements for the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge.

The NAD Group will benefit from a streamlined approach to governance overseen by a Leadership Board. This will send reports and advice to senior committees, e.g. the Ministry of Defence Executive Committee; and will receive reports and advice from supporting committees e.g. its Challenge Board, Strategy and Policy Board, and management boards of Defence Support, and of the delivery and enabling organisations: Defence Equipment and Support; Defence Digital; Defence Infrastructure Organisation; and, Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, which are now part of the collective NAD Group, and whose heads will all sit on the NAD Group Leadership Board.

The far-reaching changes in this Defence Reform programme will help cut waste, boost British growth and jobs and fast track the technologies of the future into the hands of our frontline forces.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements for the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge.

The NAD Group will benefit from a streamlined approach to governance overseen by a Leadership Board. This will send reports and advice to senior committees, e.g. the Ministry of Defence Executive Committee; and will receive reports and advice from supporting committees e.g. its Challenge Board, Strategy and Policy Board, and management boards of Defence Support, and of the delivery and enabling organisations: Defence Equipment and Support; Defence Digital; Defence Infrastructure Organisation; and, Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, which are now part of the collective NAD Group, and whose heads will all sit on the NAD Group Leadership Board.

The Urgent Capability Requirements process is used to address urgent operational capability risks and risks that present a threat to life. Due to operational sensitivity, it is inappropriate to comment further.

The United States remains the United Kingdom's foremost defence and security partner. The UK has a strong and balanced trading relationship with the US worth £315 billion which supports 2.5 million jobs across both countries. This Government is seeking to negotiate an agreement with the US to deepen our economic relationship, while ensuring all options are considered in response to tariffs.

The Government is assessing the impact of, and our response to, US tariffs across the full spectrum of UK industries. Nobody wants a trade war. The United States remains the United Kingdom's foremost defence and security partner. The UK has a strong and balanced trading relationship with the US worth £315 billion which supports 2.5 million jobs across both countries. This Government is seeking to negotiate an agreement with the US to deepen our economic relationship, while ensuring all options are considered in response to tariffs.

Defence requirements are kept under constant review to ensure that our Armed Forces have the battle-winning capabilities they need. Due to the sensitive nature of this capability area it would be inappropriate to comment in detail. All capability requirements, are being considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review process.

This Government is bringing in the deepest reforms in UK Defence for 50 years, to speed up decision-making, secure faster delivery and achieve the best value for money for our troops and taxpayers.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements for the new organisational structure created as part of Defence Reform. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge.

There is no intent to replace the Chief of Defence People with a Senior Civil Servant.

The organisation and structure of our Armed Forces, including the ranks of the Chief of the Defence Staff and Military Chiefs, has been considered as part of Defence Reform. It was judged that their seniority and rank remain commensurate to their roles and responsibilities.

This Government is bringing in the deepest reforms in UK Defence for 50 years, to speed up decision-making, secure faster delivery and achieve the best value for money for our troops and taxpayers.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements for the new organisational structure created as part of Defence Reform. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge.

There is no intent to replace the Chief of Defence People with a Senior Civil Servant.

The organisation and structure of our Armed Forces, including the ranks of the Chief of the Defence Staff and Military Chiefs, has been considered as part of Defence Reform. It was judged that their seniority and rank remain commensurate to their roles and responsibilities.

This Government is bringing in the deepest reforms in UK Defence for 50 years, to speed up decision-making, secure faster delivery and achieve the best value for money for our troops and taxpayers.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements for the new organisational structure created as part of Defence Reform. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge.

There is no intent to replace the Chief of Defence People with a Senior Civil Servant.

The organisation and structure of our Armed Forces, including the ranks of the Chief of the Defence Staff and Military Chiefs, has been considered as part of Defence Reform. It was judged that their seniority and rank remain commensurate to their roles and responsibilities.

We are currently undertaking a Strategic Defence Review which is looking at the threats we face and the capabilities we need to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the 21st century. It would be inappropriate to prejudge the outcomes of the Review.

The Military Strategic Headquarters has not been set a specific administration budget for 2025-26.

The Royal Air Force continuously researches and assesses options for the sustainment, enhancement and development of hardware and systems to maintain competitive advantage within the flying training system.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 April 2025 to Question 42022.

Defence Planning Assumptions (DPAs) will be revised following the Strategic Defence Review. We remain committed to transparency and will release a public version of updated DPAs once this detailed work is complete and tested.

The UK remains committed to Baltic and NATO security through a variety of means, including its commitment to the Enhanced Forward Presence deployment, NATO Air Policing, and the Joint Expeditionary Force. The Secretary of State for Defence regularly meets with his Estonian counterpart to discuss military contributions to European defence and security, having met most recently on 26 March 2025.

If an organisation is alleged to have failed to uphold the values they have agreed to, the Ministry of Defence has policy in place to assess their continued suitability, known as the ‘Covenant Test’.

The key question (the Covenant Test) to be answered is: “Do (or Have) the values, views, communications, or behaviour of an organisation indicate that they do not (or can no longer) uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, or effectively demonstrate their support for the Armed Forces Community?”.

Enquiries about covenant signatories can be directed to: afcovenant@rfca.mod.uk

The most recent Covenant Community Action Group meeting covered the following agenda:

• Progress update on the extension to the Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty
• The 2025 Covenant Annual Conference
• Office for Veterans’ Affairs update
• Forces in Mind Trust update on ‘Our Community, Our Covenant’ project
• Local Authority representatives’ activity updates on local Covenant delivery

Bursaries are available only for applicants wishing to join the Armed Forces and are not available to existing Service personnel or any others. They are offered to students in full-time education to attract high-calibre individuals to a career in Defence, aiming to mitigate future potential recruiting challenges. Responsibility for bursary schemes is delegated to the single Services and none have current plans to cancel any of the schemes or change the eligibility requirements.

The bursary schemes on offer across the Armed Forces are listed below by Service. As at 1 April 2025 there were 740 students in receipt of a bursary; we do not make estimates of how many students could be entitled to a bursary but do not choose to apply for one. The total cost of bursaries for the 2024-25 financial year was £5,641,350.50.

Army

Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Standard Army Undergraduate Scheme

Enhanced Army Undergraduate Scheme

Scholarship Scheme

Royal Army Medical Services Scheme

Royal College for Army Music Scheme

Royal Air Force

University Air Squadron Bursary Scheme

Medical Cadetship Scheme

Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Royal Navy / Royal Marines

Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (Legacy Bursary Scheme)

RN Bursars (Legacy Bursary Scheme)

Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Bursaries are available only for applicants wishing to join the Armed Forces and are not available to existing Service personnel or any others. They are offered to students in full-time education to attract high-calibre individuals to a career in Defence, aiming to mitigate future potential recruiting challenges. Responsibility for bursary schemes is delegated to the single Services and none have current plans to cancel any of the schemes or change the eligibility requirements.

The bursary schemes on offer across the Armed Forces are listed below by Service. As at 1 April 2025 there were 740 students in receipt of a bursary; we do not make estimates of how many students could be entitled to a bursary but do not choose to apply for one. The total cost of bursaries for the 2024-25 financial year was £5,641,350.50.

Army

Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Standard Army Undergraduate Scheme

Enhanced Army Undergraduate Scheme

Scholarship Scheme

Royal Army Medical Services Scheme

Royal College for Army Music Scheme

Royal Air Force

University Air Squadron Bursary Scheme

Medical Cadetship Scheme

Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Royal Navy / Royal Marines

Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (Legacy Bursary Scheme)

RN Bursars (Legacy Bursary Scheme)

Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Bursaries are available only for applicants wishing to join the Armed Forces and are not available to existing Service personnel or any others. They are offered to students in full-time education to attract high-calibre individuals to a career in Defence, aiming to mitigate future potential recruiting challenges. Responsibility for bursary schemes is delegated to the single Services and none have current plans to cancel any of the schemes or change the eligibility requirements.

The bursary schemes on offer across the Armed Forces are listed below by Service. As at 1 April 2025 there were 740 students in receipt of a bursary; we do not make estimates of how many students could be entitled to a bursary but do not choose to apply for one. The total cost of bursaries for the 2024-25 financial year was £5,641,350.50.

Army

Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Standard Army Undergraduate Scheme

Enhanced Army Undergraduate Scheme

Scholarship Scheme

Royal Army Medical Services Scheme

Royal College for Army Music Scheme

Royal Air Force

University Air Squadron Bursary Scheme

Medical Cadetship Scheme

Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Royal Navy / Royal Marines

Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (Legacy Bursary Scheme)

RN Bursars (Legacy Bursary Scheme)

Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Bursaries are available only for applicants wishing to join the Armed Forces and are not available to existing Service personnel or any others. They are offered to students in full-time education to attract high-calibre individuals to a career in Defence, aiming to mitigate future potential recruiting challenges. Responsibility for bursary schemes is delegated to the single Services and none have current plans to cancel any of the schemes or change the eligibility requirements.

The bursary schemes on offer across the Armed Forces are listed below by Service. As at 1 April 2025 there were 740 students in receipt of a bursary; we do not make estimates of how many students could be entitled to a bursary but do not choose to apply for one. The total cost of bursaries for the 2024-25 financial year was £5,641,350.50.

Army

Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Standard Army Undergraduate Scheme

Enhanced Army Undergraduate Scheme

Scholarship Scheme

Royal Army Medical Services Scheme

Royal College for Army Music Scheme

Royal Air Force

University Air Squadron Bursary Scheme

Medical Cadetship Scheme

Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Royal Navy / Royal Marines

Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (Legacy Bursary Scheme)

RN Bursars (Legacy Bursary Scheme)

Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Bursaries are available only for applicants wishing to join the Armed Forces and are not available to existing Service personnel or any others. They are offered to students in full-time education to attract high-calibre individuals to a career in Defence, aiming to mitigate future potential recruiting challenges. Responsibility for bursary schemes is delegated to the single Services and none have current plans to cancel any of the schemes or change the eligibility requirements.

The bursary schemes on offer across the Armed Forces are listed below by Service. As at 1 April 2025 there were 740 students in receipt of a bursary; we do not make estimates of how many students could be entitled to a bursary but do not choose to apply for one. The total cost of bursaries for the 2024-25 financial year was £5,641,350.50.

Army

Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Standard Army Undergraduate Scheme

Enhanced Army Undergraduate Scheme

Scholarship Scheme

Royal Army Medical Services Scheme

Royal College for Army Music Scheme

Royal Air Force

University Air Squadron Bursary Scheme

Medical Cadetship Scheme

Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Royal Navy / Royal Marines

Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (Legacy Bursary Scheme)

RN Bursars (Legacy Bursary Scheme)

Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Defence Reform is delivering meaningful change through a phased approach over the course of this Parliament to reform Defence. However, it is too early to capture the required level of investment in this programme of work, which we expect will deliver net benefits through changes such as more efficient procurement processes, including a reduction in waste.

The Ministry of Defence takes all aspects of security very seriously, and our AI and Security teams are working closely to ensure that the impact of AI on our work is positive and does not adversely affect security. We do not comment on details of security.

We take the safety of our personnel very seriously and any veteran that may have served at Camp Lejeune during this period and believes that their health was affected can apply for compensation under the War Pension Scheme. It is also worth noting that the US compensation scheme had been running for almost two years at the point it was raised on 30 July 2024 to the new Ministerial team.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold information on British personnel affected by water contamination at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987; however, we are making every effort to ensure Serving personnel and veterans are aware of their rights moving forward. On notification, I immediately instructed the Ministry of Defence to issue communications to encourage those who think they may have been affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to contact the department. On 2 August 2024 the Department released an article on Gov.uk explaining how to check eligibility and claim before the deadline. This was also followed up by posts on the Department’s social media accounts and internally through Veterans UK and all three Services.

I continue to encourage anyone who was based at Camp Lejeune between 1 August 1953 and 31 December 1987 to write to the MOD so that we may provide them with advice.

We take the safety of our personnel very seriously and any veteran that may have served at Camp Lejeune during this period and believes that their health was affected can apply for compensation under the War Pension Scheme. It is also worth noting that the US compensation scheme had been running for almost two years at the point it was raised on 30 July 2024 to the new Ministerial team.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold information on British personnel affected by water contamination at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987; however, we are making every effort to ensure Serving personnel and veterans are aware of their rights moving forward. On notification, I immediately instructed the Ministry of Defence to issue communications to encourage those who think they may have been affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to contact the department. On 2 August 2024 the Department released an article on Gov.uk explaining how to check eligibility and claim before the deadline. This was also followed up by posts on the Department’s social media accounts and internally through Veterans UK and all three Services.

I continue to encourage anyone who was based at Camp Lejeune between 1 August 1953 and 31 December 1987 to write to the MOD so that we may provide them with advice.

We take the safety of our personnel very seriously and any veteran that may have served at Camp Lejeune during this period and believes that their health was affected can apply for compensation under the War Pension Scheme. It is also worth noting that the US compensation scheme had been running for almost two years at the point it was raised on 30 July 2024 to the new Ministerial team.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold information on British personnel affected by water contamination at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987; however, we are making every effort to ensure Serving personnel and veterans are aware of their rights moving forward. On notification, I immediately instructed the Ministry of Defence to issue communications to encourage those who think they may have been affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to contact the department. On 2 August 2024 the Department released an article on Gov.uk explaining how to check eligibility and claim before the deadline. This was also followed up by posts on the Department’s social media accounts and internally through Veterans UK and all three Services.

I continue to encourage anyone who was based at Camp Lejeune between 1 August 1953 and 31 December 1987 to write to the MOD so that we may provide them with advice.

As I stated in my Answer on 12 December 2024 to Question 17507 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-12-03/17507 I have asked Ministry of Defence officials to undertake a comprehensive exercise to better understand what information the Department holds in relation to the medical testing of Service personnel who took part in the UK nuclear weapons tests.

MOD officials instruct the Government Legal Department on behalf of MOD Ministers.

While recognising the sacrifice of UK Service personnel who gave their lives during the ‘Cyprus Emergency’, Parliamentary and Ministerial commitments mean there are no plans to visit the memorial at The Old British Cemetery at Girne. However, when Parliamentary and Ministerial calendars allow, a Minister would be happy to visit.

Defence recognises that access to appropriate childcare can be an enabler to ensure our Serving personnel are able to fully perform their duties. While it is not a core output of Defence to provide childcare, in some areas where the local provision cannot meet the demand, childcare providers make use of buildings on the Defence Estate.

The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The Ofsted ratings for each of the Armed Forces Apprenticeship programmes are as follows:

Royal Navy – OUTSTANDING, inspected 8 March 2018 (next inspection is due before the end of July 2025)

British Army – GOOD, inspected 25 October 2023

Royal Air Force – GOOD, inspected 9 July 2024

The Ofsted ratings for each of the Armed Forces Initial Training establishments in the 2023-24 Academic Year are as follows:

HMS Raleigh, Cornwall – GOOD

RAF Shawbury, Shropshire – GOOD

Aerial Erector School, RAF Digby, Lincolnshire – OUTSTANDING

Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Devon – GOOD

Defence Medical Academy, Staffordshire – REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

11 Royal School of Signals Regiment, Dorset – GOOD

HMNB Clyde, Argyll, Scotland – GOOD

University Officer Training Corps, nationwide – GOOD

Defence School of Policing and Guarding, Hampshire – GOOD

Army Foundation College (Harrogate), North Yorkshire – OUTSTANDING

Defence Animal Training Centre, Leicestershire – OUTSTANDING

Britannia Royal Naval College, Devon – GOOD

All reports are publicly available via Ofsted on the gov.uk website: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/

The Ofsted ratings for each of the Armed Forces Apprenticeship programmes are as follows:

Royal Navy – OUTSTANDING, inspected 8 March 2018 (next inspection is due before the end of July 2025)

British Army – GOOD, inspected 25 October 2023

Royal Air Force – GOOD, inspected 9 July 2024

The Ofsted ratings for each of the Armed Forces Initial Training establishments in the 2023-24 Academic Year are as follows:

HMS Raleigh, Cornwall – GOOD

RAF Shawbury, Shropshire – GOOD

Aerial Erector School, RAF Digby, Lincolnshire – OUTSTANDING

Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Devon – GOOD

Defence Medical Academy, Staffordshire – REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

11 Royal School of Signals Regiment, Dorset – GOOD

HMNB Clyde, Argyll, Scotland – GOOD

University Officer Training Corps, nationwide – GOOD

Defence School of Policing and Guarding, Hampshire – GOOD

Army Foundation College (Harrogate), North Yorkshire – OUTSTANDING

Defence Animal Training Centre, Leicestershire – OUTSTANDING

Britannia Royal Naval College, Devon – GOOD

All reports are publicly available via Ofsted on the gov.uk website: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/

The Ministry of Defence does not provide additional support for people with long term health conditions to access discounts on water charges when the supply is provided on behalf of the Department.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 March 2025 to the hon. Member for Fylde (Andrew Snowden) to Question 34040.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2025 to Question 24182.

I can provide the hon. Member and the House full assurance that all Parliamentary Questions are signed off by Ministers, and this practice remains in place. The Ministry of Defence continues to explore the use of AI to support routine business operations and policy work, thereby saving time on specific and general tasks.

I will write to the hon. Member once the information is available. Any future spend profile for Uncrewed Systems is subject to the outcomes of the Strategic Defence Review.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) actively supports and promotes membership of the Cadet Forces, and we are keen to attract more cadets. The MOD sponsors five Cadet Forces which offer young people fantastic opportunities to develop key skills which independent research has found can literally be life changing.

The Cadet Forces are active on social media with regular posts often generated at local level by individual units. These can be accessed on a range of popular platforms including Facebook and Instagram and further information about local units and how to join is also available on the Cadet Forces’ websites.

In addition, the Cadet Force headquarters run national or regional marketing campaigns to encourage young people to join the Cadets by showcasing the benefits for personal development, adventure, friendship and fun. A recent example of this is the ‘Be More with the Army Cadets!’ national recruitment campaign which was launched in August 2024.

Beyond national and local level recruitment and awareness campaigns and activities, the MOD publicises Cadets through specific events – for example the cadet engagement event held at Frimley Cadet Training Centre in April.

We continue to invest significantly in the Cadet Forces with independent research showing that the cost of Cadets is fully covered if the life outcomes of just 1% of cadets change each year so that they are in education, training, or employment.

We want more young people to benefit from the Cadet experience, and we are currently undertaking a review – closely aligned with the wider Strategic Defence Review – to determine how we can grow the size and the offer of the Cadet Forces.