Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help ensure that membership of cadet forces in Northern Ireland is supported.

The Government is committed to supporting the Cadet Forces across the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland, recognising the significant benefits participation brings to young people and wider society. Cadets develop vital life skills such as self-discipline, confidence and resilience, while the cadet experience improves educational attainment and employment prospects, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

I recently had the opportunity to meet cadets and adult volunteers at the Ballygowan Army Cadet Detachment in Belfast. During my visit, I saw cadets demonstrating a range of skills which they had developed through their training. They shared with me what being a cadet means to them, and I also talked to adult volunteers who discussed their experiences, and the benefits they have gained as a vital part of the cadet movement.

Recognising the significant benefits that participation in the cadets brings to young people and wider society, through the Strategic Defence Review we are working to grow cadet numbers by 30% by 2030, with an ambition to reach 250,000 in the longer term.

As part of this initiative, we are looking forward to the launch in October of the first National Cadets Week, which is an opportunity for us all to come together to celebrate and support the outstanding contributions of our cadets and adult volunteers.