Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Smith and Judith Cummins

Monday 6th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

What steps his Department has taken to maintain the overall size of the armed forces as set out in the 2015 strategic defence and security review.

[Judith Cummins (Bradford South) (Lab)]

What steps his Department has taken to maintain the overall size of the armed forces as set out in the 2015 strategic defence and security review.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ben Wallace)]

Since 2015 we have introduced many measures to respond to a difficult armed forces recruitment and retention climate. These include financial incentives, flexible service, the recruitment partnership project, the future accommodation model, and improved childcare. We saw improved recruitment figures of 31% from 2018-19. The size of the armed forces should always be dictated by the threat, UK global ambition, and modern technology.