Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 68 of his Department's Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress his Department has made on Defence running training and education when it cannot be obtained externally at suitable cost and quality.

The Department does make use of externally provided training and education where this offers the best value and quality, while retaining and developing Defence-delivered provision where military-specific requirements, operational needs or specialist expertise cannot be met externally.

Across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, service training remains responsible for delivering domain-specific skills and expertise. Defence is increasing the use of common and joint education where this can be delivered on a “whole force by default” basis. This approach supports interoperability, readiness and the development of a shared warfighting culture across Defence and with NATO.

Army training and education that is primarily military continues to be delivered by military instructors, with a blended model of civilian partnership used as appropriate for other training. Wherever a suitable civilian equivalent exists, Army training and education are aligned with Recognised Qualifications and professional standards, supporting skills development, recruitment and retention, transition into civilian employment and the portability of skills between Defence and wider industry.