Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to maintain levels of training and skill in the Army.

The Army invests significantly in skills, education and training for its people to build the problem-solving attributes, teamwork, resilience, intellect and

creativity needed to be successful now and in the future.

A comprehensive professional pipeline trains soldiers and officers from the basics of being a soldier, through progressive levels of trade training, as well as the leadership skills required at all ranks. This through-career approach focuses on skills primacy and adaptability and is underpinned by a lifelong learning culture to afford the Army the strategic advantage it requires. The Army has in the region of 7,800 new soldier-apprentices starting every year.

More broadly, Defence continues to invest in collective training capabilities for its Armed Forces and, under the Future Soldier programme, the Army is modernising collective training to better prepare for the challenges personnel will face in modern warfare.