Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in the level of funding for the Combined Cadet Force Association on its operation in the London Borough of Havering.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This Government’s commitment to supporting the school-based Combined Cadet Force and the Cadet Expansion Programme in schools remains unchanged. Therefore, we continue to invest £3.6 million per year in the programme so that more young people can enjoy the benefits of the cadet experience.
In light of this, I have also directed that a review be undertaken to ascertain how we can deliver more cadet activity, and to do more for our cadets, both in schools and in wider communities.
Jan. 30 2025
Source Page: I. Letter dated 27/01/2025 from Luke Pollard MP to Helen Maguire MP regarding a parliamentary question on armed forces bases by constituency. 1p. II. Annex A: list of bases and constituencies. 234 p.Found: FORCEBradford WestEnglandNaz ShahLabourReserveBRADFORD COMBINED CADET FORCE CONTINGENTBradford WestEnglandNaz
Asked by: Sojan Joseph (Labour - Ashford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) support and (b) resources available to the (i) Sea Cadets, (ii) Volunteer Cadet Corps, (iii) Army Cadet Force, (iv) Air Training Corps and (v) Combined Cadet Force in (A) England and (B) Kent.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
We are committed to sustaining the Ministry of Defence Cadet Forces in Kent, in England, and across the UK.
And Kent, as with other counties, is very well served with numerous Sea Cadet units, Army Cadet detachments and Air Cadet squadrons in the community, and Combined Cadet Force contingents in schools.
We know that participation in the Cadet Forces provides the opportunity for young people to develop key attributes such as confidence, self-discipline, and resilience, and helps to increase their performance at school and improving employment and career prospects.
We know that if just 1% of cadets change their life outcomes each year – so that they take part in education or training or gain employment – then the annual cost of the Cadet Forces is covered.
We are proud that we already invest a significant amount each year in these excellent organisations, and I have directed that we review how we can improve the offer and size of the Cadet Forces.
The Government is convinced of the benefits that the Cadet Forces provide, not just for young people who participate, but also for the adult volunteers who deliver the cadet experience, and for society as a whole.
Mentions:
1: Peter Swallow (Lab - Bracknell) forces, not just Combined Cadet Forces, although they are important. - Speech Link
2: Peter Swallow (Lab - Bracknell) cadet force contingent. - Speech Link
3: Al Carns (Lab - Birmingham Selly Oak) I also thank him for inviting me to his constituency, where I met his cadet force. - Speech Link
Mar. 11 2025
Source Page: Ten people recognised by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Clwyd in Wrexham ceremonyFound: Force.
Mentions:
1: Earl of Effingham (Con - Excepted Hereditary) Does the Minister agree that one of the best ways of doing this is via the cadet force, which encourages - Speech Link
2: Baroness Twycross (Lab - Life peer) I am happy to agree with the noble Earl about the cadet forces. - Speech Link
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cadets there are affiliated to the (a) British Army, (b) Royal Navy, (c) Royal Air Force and (d) Combined Cadet Forces.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes annual accredited official statistics on the strength of MOD-sponsored Cadet Forces. The latest iteration provides statistics as at 1 April 2024 and can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-sponsored-cadet-forces-statistics-2024. The next iteration of these statistics is expected to be published in June 2025 with information as at 1 April 2025.
Mentions:
1: Lord Bailey of Paddington (Con - Life peer) My Lords, given that the uniformed cadet service has more than 139,000 members and provides some of the - Speech Link
2: Lord West of Spithead (Lab - Life peer) My Lords, further to the point just raised about the cadet forces, they are amazingly successful. - Speech Link
3: Baroness Twycross (Lab - Life peer) We are really keen to see the Combined Cadet Force grow, and the MoD funding in this academic year supports - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab - Life peer) The Government recognise the value of volunteer police cadet programmes and the role they play in supporting - Speech Link
2: Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab - Life peer) As I just mentioned, police cadet funding is the responsibility of the police and crime commissioner - Speech Link
3: Lord Naseby (Con - Life peer) My Lords, almost parallel to the police cadets is the Combined Cadet Force, which is particularly relevant - Speech Link
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 11294 on Armed Forces: Cadets, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the ending of the additional SSI grant on the long term sustainability of school cadet forces.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The development and sustainability of school cadet units depends on a range of factors including senior leadership team support and the ability to attract and retain adult volunteers to manage and deliver cadet activities.
Our commitment to supporting the school-based Combined Cadet Force and the Cadet Expansion Programme in schools remains unchanged. We are very aware of the benefits that cadet activity brings to the young people themselves and of the positive contribution that having a cadet unit makes to schools.
Therefore, we continue to invest £3.6 million per year in the programme so that more young people can enjoy the benefits of the cadet experience, but I have also directed that a review be undertaken to ascertain how we can deliver more cadet activity both in schools and in the wider community settings. The role and support to the SSI will figure in this review.