Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to meet the target of 40,000 young people offered opportunities and employment in skilled defence careers every year by 2030.

The Ministry of Defence is working alongside other government departments and with the UK defence industry to deliver commitments to the Defence Youth Participation and Employment Pledge to provide 40,000 opportunities to young people by 2030. This will include a range of activities including expanding routes into apprenticeships, provide greater work experience opportunities and increase career engagement for young people, including those not in education, employment or training.

Through the Defence Industrial Strategy, we have committed £182 million to a Defence Industry Skills package that will support young people develop the skills required to pursue careers in defence. The package includes the establishment of five Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, two in Scotland and one in Wales that provide specialist training for skills required for critical defence roles. It also committed to develop the Defence Apprenticeship and Graduate Clearing System, providing alternative opportunities for young people to access a career in the defence supply chain.