Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Goldie on 4 March (HL13345), on which occasions in the last 20 years the British Army has deployed a largely fully formed and supported brigade for manoeuvre and deployment training; and when they expect that a similar scale of exercise will be conducted in order (1) to test the UK's ability and identify any weaknesses, (2) to reassure allies, and (3) to deter potential opponents.

The British Army has regularly conducted collective training at Brigade level over the years and has plans to do so in the future. Over the course of Operations HERRICK (2002 - 2014) and TELIC (2003 - 2011) the British Army continuously trained and prepared a series of Brigade level deployments, including full Mission Rehearsal Exercises on an enduring 6 monthly rotational basis. Other significant Brigade level training in the past includes Exercises SAIF SAREEA 2 in 2002 and SAIF SAREEA 3 in 2018.

The Army's Collective Training Group delivers a comprehensive programme of Mission Ready and Combat Ready Training to the Field Army. All training delivered at Battle Group level and above is delivered in a Brigade context as a minimum. Whilst this training methodology may not involve deploying the entire Brigade into the field at the same time, it does ensure that the skill sets involved in deploying a Brigade are practised regularly. Furthermore, use of simulation ensures that this type of training can be conducted efficiently whilst maximising the impact and utility of the training.

In addition to this continuous series of events delivered in a Brigade and Divisional context, there are also a series of planned exercises that focus on Brigade level and above training. Examples of these include the 16 Air Assault Brigade deploying of Ex SWIFT RESPONSE 22 in 2022 and the deployment of elements on Ex CERBERUS 22. Furthermore, the British Army regularly participates in the DEFENDER series, a US led multinational exercise in Europe, at the Brigade level.