Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve (a) recruitment and (b) retention in the armed forces.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The new Government’s work in improving retention and recruitment is part of a package of measures aimed to renew the contract between the nation and those who serve. We are modernising and refining our policies and processes to attract, and then retain the best possible talent, highlighting that Defence is a modern, forward-facing employer which offers a valuable and rewarding career. Our aim is to attract and recruit more, as well as maximise the number of applicants that successfully enter and remain in Armed Forces employment.

We have already awarded the largest Armed Forces pay increase in 22 years, ensuring that the starting Armed Forces’ salary is in line with the National Living Wage, and have set a new ambition for the Armed Forces to make a conditional offer of employment to candidates within 10 days and to give people a provisional training start date within 30 days. We have reviewed and implemented changes to the Armed Forces’ Entry Medical Employment Standards, setting new regulations for a range of conditions including asthma and eczema. Furthermore, Defence is creating a new military direct-entry cyber pathway. This will help boost our cyber resilience and support the UK’s ability to conduct operations in cyberspace.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to use digital technology to improve defence outputs.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Defence’s goal is to continually evolve a secure, singular, modern Digital Backbone to connect sensors, effectors, and deciders across military and business domains and with partners, driving integration and interoperability across domains and platforms. Through this, we are exploiting digital technology and data to revolutionise warfare and transform defence.

Found: Defra and the Devolved Governments have appointed Professor Hayley Fowler, Professor Chris Evans and

Found: 2024-04-30 BBFC Discussion on audience protection measures and the Media Bill Julia Lopez 2024-05-07 Chris

Submit Evidence (by 13 Jan 2025)

Inward investment, a term often used interchangeably with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), refers to cross-border investment from one country to another and which aims to establish a lasting interest and effective voice in an enterprise. In FDI statistics, an effective voice means owning 10% or more of the equity share capital in an enterprise.