Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the This is Belonging campaign by the Army was marketed to 16 to 24 year-olds in lower socio-economic groups.

As a mass employer, the Army necessarily recruits from across all geographic and societal areas of the United Kingdom. The "This is Belonging" campaign is a national recruitment campaign aimed at a wide variety of young people from across society. In developing such campaigns the Army does recognise and factor in that there are a number of key characteristics including age, academic achievement and socio-economic profiles that influence the attraction of candidates to the Army.

The cities of Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Belfast and Cardiff, as well as being significant areas of mass population within the UK, have a proud historical record as strong recruiting areas for the Army and this is recognised within the campaign.

The Army provides excellent employment opportunities and is Britain's biggest provider of apprenticeships offering chances not just for a job, but for a long successful career, supporting social mobility in society.