Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fabricant and Johnny Mercer

Monday 16th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

On the subject of social mobility, you and I know, Mr Speaker, that the Royal Marines ensures that training includes not only officers but enlisted men, together. I think it is the only organisation in NATO which does that. Is there a lesson to be learned, and should other branches of the armed forces also engage in combined training?

[Johnny Mercer]

I thank my hon. Friend for his interest in this important matter. Every service establishment where we conduct training is a mixture of enlisted men and women and commissioned ranks. We are always seeking to do more, although the division between the two is not a struggle that we persistently see.