Modernising Defence Programme Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Modernising Defence Programme

Andrew Bowie Excerpts
Tuesday 18th December 2018

(5 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Gavin Williamson Portrait Gavin Williamson
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No chance at all.

Andrew Bowie Portrait Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (Con)
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There are serious concerns regarding manpower, particularly in the Royal Navy; how will the MDP address them?

Gavin Williamson Portrait Gavin Williamson
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We are going back and looking at how we do recruitment better—how we go out and get more people applying for our armed forces, and how we make sure their applications are dealt with swiftly—and we have been seeing an increase. We have also been looking at how to inspire a new generation of young people to join our armed forces. We employ more apprentices than any other Government Department; there are over 20,000 people on apprenticeships with the MOD, and we hope to have more.