Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of cadet organisations for increasing levels of recruitment into the armed forces.

The Ministry of Defence sponsored cadet forces are military-themed voluntary youth organisations. The Cadet Forces are not set up as conduits for entry into the Armed Forces – this position is clearly stated in the UK’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, many ex-cadets do go on to join the Regular or Reserve Forces; approximately 40% of officers and 20% of other ranks in the Regular Forces were previously cadets.

The Government is convinced of the benefits of Cadets, not just for the young people who participate but also for society as a whole and it remains committed to supporting the Cadet movement.