Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Pursglove Excerpts

Monday 26th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

20. What steps he is taking to recruit personnel to the armed forces.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

22. What steps he is taking to encourage people to join the armed forces.

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

We remain committed to maintaining the overall size of the armed forces. Importantly, the services continue to meet all their current commitments, keeping the country and its interests safe.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mark Lancaster]

Let us be clear: our armed forces continue to meet all their operational commitments and remain at over 93% manned. We should put this into perspective. We are not complacent, and I am pleased to say that there are the early green shoots of recovery, with the number applying to join the armed forces at a record five-year high. We have to allow those people to work their way through the system.

[Tom Pursglove]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that young people need a mixture and variety of routes through which to succeed, not just traditional academic routes? How are armed forced opportunities presented to young people?

[Mark Lancaster]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I remain convinced that the armed forces continue to be an attractive proposition for young people. There are very few professions that someone can join with limited qualifications and leave with a level 6, degree-level apprenticeship.