Oral Answers to Questions

Jeff Smith Excerpts

Monday 22nd October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mark Lancaster]

It will come as no surprise to the hon. Gentleman that I do not have that figure at my fingertips, but I will write to him.

[Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab)]

4. What recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of armed forces personnel.

[Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)]

7. What recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of armed forces personnel.

[The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mark Lancaster)]

We remain committed to maintaining the overall size of the armed forces. We have a range of measures under way to improve recruitment and retention, and these are kept under constant review. Importantly, the services continue to meet all their current commitments, keeping the country and its interests safe.

[Jeff Smith]

The Armed Forces Pay Review Body reports that the outflow rates—personnel leaving the armed forces—are at “historically high levels” under this Government. Why does the Minister think that is?

[Mark Lancaster]

Retaining our service personnel is always a challenge, and that is precisely why we are focusing hard on the offer—the opportunity to train and to serve overseas. Only this month, some 5,500 personnel are serving on Saif Sareea 3 in Oman; equally, we have servicemen serving in Estonia and on Exercise Trident Juncture in Norway. We have perhaps not previously had those opportunities to train and to serve overseas, which are key to retention.