Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jerome Mayhew and James Heappey

Monday 21st September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Jerome Mayhew (Broadland) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to (a) recruit and (b) retain armed forces personnel.

[The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey)]

During the 2019-20 recruiting year the armed forces hit 93% of our inflow target despite covid disrupting the end of the year; recruitment was, however, 31% up from 2018-19. While the armed forces are doing excellent work to continue that success, covid has had an initial impact on training throughflow this year. In the short term, therefore, we expect to see lower throughflow, but early signs are that this will be mitigated by improved retention and, very encouragingly, a good flow of rejoiners.

[Jerome Mayhew]

As a response to covid, we have seen the unemployment figures start to rise, and that is particularly reflected in the 18 to 24-year-old demographic. Do the Government agree that this is an opportunity to recruit, and perhaps even to meet our full-time trained requirement for the first time since the year 2000? Does the Minister agree that a career in the armed forces represents an excellent career life choice, and that now is a better time than ever to sign up?

[James Heappey]

Emphatically, yes.