Oral Answers to Questions

Josh Newbury Excerpts

Monday 18th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase) (Lab)]

4. What steps he is taking to improve recruitment and retention in the armed forces.

[Mr Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)]

20. What steps the Government are taking to improve recruitment and retention in the armed forces.

[The Minister for the Armed Forces (Luke Pollard)]

This Government have already begun to modernise and refine our policies and processes to attract and retain the best possible talent in our armed forces. We are delivering for defence, with a 35% pay increase for new recruits and one of the largest pay increases in the last 20 years for existing personnel. We are scrapping over 100 outdated medical policies and setting an ambition to make a conditional offer of employment to candidates within 10 days and a provisional training start date within 30 days.

[Josh Newbury]

From cadets to regulars and reservists, it is clear that we must urgently tackle the recruitment and retention crisis presided over by the last Government. Will the Minister join me in welcoming the fact that over 700 applications are now being reconsidered after the removal of unnecessary red tape blocking some sufferers of hay fever and acne from joining?

[Luke Pollard]

I am delighted to join my hon. Friend in welcoming the announcement by the Ministry of Defence that more than 700 applications have been reconsidered following the removal of 100 outdated medical policies, such as those blocking some sufferers of hay fever, eczema and acne. That is a perfect example of how we are fixing the foundations and delivering for defence.