Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason regular and annual battlegroup training exercises have ceased; and if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of reintroducing such exercises.

Regular and annual Battlegroup training exercises have not ceased. There have been a number of Battlegroup level exercises this year, including Exercise Iron Storm, which concluded in July. The exercise provided the 1 Mercian Battlegroup an opportunity to come together and train in a combined arms environment.

The Army has a substantial and sophisticated exercise programme in place to ensure that it is trained and ready to operate at the Battlegroup level. This includes training with Allies and partners.