Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the projected number of army cadets for each year of the remainder of this Parliament.

There are currently c. 75,000 cadets and c. 11,000 cadet force adult volunteers involved in the Army Cadets.

Work is currently underway to understand opportunities for expansion across Ministry of Defence Cadets. Although it is too early to make an accurate assessment on projected numbers, the work aims to reflect the important contribution cadets make to society.

Research has for example shown that participation in Cadets increases social mobility and improves the health and wellbeing of young people, producing an annual return on investment in the region of £95 million. We are committed to sustaining the Cadet Forces across the UK.