Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support cadet forces in Fylde constituency.

The Government is convinced of the benefits of cadets, not just for young people who participate, but for society. Participation in the Cadet Forces has significant positive impacts on young people, increasing their performance at school and improving their employment and career prospects.

The Cadet Forces instil values and standards and provide the opportunity for young people to develop key skills including self-discipline, confidence, and resilience which equip them for life.

The skills, confidence, and cultural capital that young people gain from being cadets improves their social mobility, and in terms of health and wellbeing alone, participation in the Cadet Forces produces an annual return on investment in the region of £120 million.

Independent research has shown the cost of cadets is fully covered if the life outcomes of just 1% of cadets change each year so that they are in education, training, or employment.

For all these reasons, we are committed to sustaining the Cadet Forces across the UK, including within the Fylde constituency, where there are currently nine separate Cadet Units.