Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April to Question 45049 on Military Strategic Headquarters: Armed Forces, whether posts will be (a) rotational, (b) competitive and (c) divided between the services to be filled by their own boarding procedures.

It is too early to specify the staffing requirements and representation levels for the four new areas of Defence created by Defence Reform: Department of State, Defence Nuclear Enterprise, National Armaments Director Group, and Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ). Head Office responsibilities have been subsumed into the new structure, and Strategic Command is part of MSHQ.

However, Service personnel apportionment and representation will be balanced to ensure effective strategic direction, policy formulation, and coordination of joint capabilities and operations. It is anticipated that this continue to apply in new structure through a combination of rotation, competition-based appointments, and individual Service boarding procedures to ensure career progression and suitably qualified individuals.