Scotland: Armed Forces

(asked on 11th January 2022) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has met its target of stationing 12,500 personnel in Scotland by 2020; and how many of his Department's personnel are stationed in Scotland as at January 2022.


Answered by
James Heappey Portrait
James Heappey
This question was answered on 17th January 2022

As of the last publication of data in October 2021, there were 19,380 Defence people based in Scotland. This is comprised of 10,430 Regular Armed Forces personnel (Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force), 5,320 Reserve personnel and 3,630 civilian personnel (Civil Servants).

The Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper make clear that we must focus on Defence capability rather than personnel numbers in response to changing threats and priorities and maintaining technological advantage is a defining feature of our national strategy and prosperity. However, Armed Forces numbers in Scotland will remain overall consistent in Scotland at around 13,000. As platforms and equipment increase in sophistication, we will require a different type of suitably qualified military, civilian, and industrial workforce to operate and service them, which presents opportunities for new skills, investment, and training.

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