Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a medal for servicemen and women who leave the armed forces before becoming eligible for medals under existing schemes.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Whilst we are grateful to all those who serve in our Armed Forces, it remains the position that medals are awarded only in recognition of operational Service, acts of gallantry, and long and meritorious Service; they are not awarded for Service alone. The Ministry of Defence has no plans to recommend that consideration is given to the introduction of a new medal for personnel who are not eligible for recognition under existing medallic arrangements. Any proposal for a new medal would require endorsement by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals and approval by His Majesty The King.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 43 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published in June 2025, CP 1338, what progress he has made on establishing UK Defence Innovation.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
UK Defence Innovation launched on 1 July 2025 and expects to be fully operational by July 2026. Work continues at pace on implementing, transitioning, and operationalising the full system. The Strategic Defence Review set out clear priorities for defence, with a strong emphasis on the need for rapid delivery of innovation. The launch of UK Defence Innovation will help to deliver a modern, resilient, and technologically advanced force by accelerating innovation, supporting strategic autonomy, and driving collaboration across defence, industry, and academia.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 42 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published in June 2025, CP 1338, how much of the £10 billion contingency for the Dreadnought programme he estimates will be spent this Parliament.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
To date £3.37 billion contingency has been utilised with the remainder allocated to future years including beyond the current Parliament. Dreadnought contingency spend is reported to Parliament via the Defence Nuclear Enterprise Annual Update, once final outturn figures are confirmed.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding his Department has allocated to the new single living accommodation block at Weeton Barracks.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
A new Single Living Accommodation project is underway at Weeton Barracks, where contractual costs are approximately £15 million.
The project will provide a modern, sustainable building with 69 bed spaces. The building is due to be completed in December 2025.
Asked by: Emma Foody (Labour (Co-op) - Cramlington and Killingworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of early service leavers (a) were medically discharged and (b) left of their own volition in each service in each of the last five years.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Defence defines Early Service Leavers as personnel who exit before the end of their agreed engagement or contracted period. The following table refers to outflow following Phase 2 training, from the Trained (RN/RM and RAF) and Trade Trained (Army) UK Regular Forces, including personnel leaving the Services, deaths and recalled Reservists on release. It is not possible to identify the reasons why untrained personnel leave service early.
It should be noted that ‘Medically Discharged’ figures represent those who are suffering from a medical condition that pre-empts their continued service; ‘Voluntary Outflow’ encompasses all personnel who voluntarily exit before the end of their agreed engagement or contracted period, and ‘Other Service Leavers’ includes, but is not limited to, those that exit for reasons of discipline, unsuitability or other unspecified reasons. Figures do not include promotion from Ranks to Officers or flows between Services.
Number and Percentage of Early Service Leavers1 by Financial Year and Service from 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2025
| FY 2020-21 | FY 2021-22 | FY 2022-23 | FY 2023-24 | FY 2024-25 | |||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
Total | 7,077 |
| 8,584 |
| 11,317 |
| 11,315 |
| 10,099 |
|
Medically Discharged | 891 | 12.6% | 1,021 | 11.9% | 1,347 | 11.9% | 1,750 | 15.5% | 1,598 | 15.8% |
Royal Navy/ Royal Marines | 280 | 4.0% | 410 | 4.8% | 357 | 3.2% | 370 | 3.3% | 383 | 3.8% |
Army | 502 | 7.1% | 484 | 5.6% | 804 | 7.1% | 1,157 | 10.2% | 1,026 | 10.2% |
Royal Air Force | 109 | 1.5% | 127 | 1.5% | 186 | 1.6% | 223 | 2.0% | 189 | 1.9% |
Voluntary Outflow | 5,268 | 74.4% | 5,978 | 69.6% | 8,400 | 74.2% | 8,101 | 71.6% | 7,304 | 72.3% |
Royal Navy/ Royal Marines | 1,202 | 17.0% | 1,348 | 15.7% | 1,923 | 17.0% | 1,695 | 15.0% | 1,596 | 15.8% |
Army | 2,969 | 42.0% | 3,480 | 40.5% | 4,522 | 40.0% | 4,652 | 41.1% | 4,338 | 43.0% |
Royal Air Force | 1,097 | 15.5% | 1,150 | 13.4% | 1,955 | 17.3% | 1,754 | 15.5% | 1,370 | 13.6% |
Other Early Leavers | 918 | 13.0% | 1,585 | 18.5% | 1,570 | 13.9% | 1,464 | 12.9% | 1,197 | 11.9% |
Notes:
Some of this information was obtained from records whose primary purpose is to ensure appropriate administration, with statistical analysis and reporting secondary functions, introducing time lag and impacting on the quality of data recorded.
Figures align with those found in the Service Personnel Statistics Publication (2025 collection found here: Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics: 2025 - GOV.UK), in particular Table 5d UK Regular Forces Trained/Trade Trained Outflow by Service and Exit Reason.
Defence Statistics release annual updates on medical discharges in the UK Armed Forces as an Official Statistic publication. The last statistical release was on 17 July 2025 which presented data up to 31 March 2025. The latest report can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/medical-discharges-among-uk-service-personnel-statistics-index
Asked by: Emma Foody (Labour (Co-op) - Cramlington and Killingworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of recruits did not pass out of basic training in each service in each of the last five years.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The single Services routinely monitor and review reasons for recruits and trainees withdrawing from training, ensuring that they are supported appropriately. For example, the Recruit Trainee Survey (RTS) annual reports provide summary statistics on the perceptions of training, facilities, food, support and fairness of treatment of Phase 1 and Phase 2 recruits and trainees. The single Services use these activities to identify where improvements can be made to ensure more recruits and trainees complete their basic and professional training to enter productive service in the Armed Forces.
The requested information is provided in the attached spreadsheet.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure the accuracy of data on the (a) location, (b) contact details, (c) health and (d) readiness of ex-Regulars held within the strategic reserve.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
In support of the Strategic Defence Review recommendation to step-up engagement with the Strategic Reserve, the Military Strategic Headquarters, in partnership with the Military Commands, is leading work to gather and assure the relevant information to ex Regular Service personnel who still hold a Strategic Reserve liability. This includes gathering updated contact details and employer information. We are improving our assurance of this information, such as through the UK exercise programme in coming years.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has conducted a recent audit of the skills and health readiness of ex-Regular personnel who may be called upon during national emergencies.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
In support of the Strategic Defence Review recommendation to step-up engagement with the Strategic Reserve, the Military Strategic Headquarters, in partnership with the Military Commands, is leading work to gather and assure the relevant information to ex Regular Service personnel who still hold a Strategic Reserve liability. This includes gathering updated contact details and employer information. We are improving our assurance of this information, such as through the UK exercise programme in coming years.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department is providing to the bereaved families of the Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash in 1994.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Our deepest sympathies remain with the bereaved families of this tragic accident. The Ministry of Defence has supported families, and upheld our commitment to transparency and accountability, by fully cooperating with previous inquiries and investigations. We remain committed to engaging fully and constructively with the ongoing judicial review proceedings.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to take steps to make it easier for people in the British Overseas Territories to enter army officer training in the UK.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
British Overseas Territory Citizens (BOTC) are already eligible to apply to join the British Army and there are no restrictions on the numbers who can serve as Officers or Other Ranks. However, a UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) footprint is an integral part of the national security vetting process for joining the Armed Forces, and clearance levels vary depending on the rank and role applied for. Where an applicant, regardless of nationality, has not resided in the UK continuously for the required period prior to their application, additional checks may be needed.
For BOTC, the lack of UK residency can be managed through a residency waiver, which would include additional documentation being provided by individuals. Each case will be risk-assessed on a case-by-case basis, and successful BOTC applicants would be eligible for clearance but for a shorter period of time in the first instance. Once the individual is in the Armed Forces, they will build up a UK footprint which will then allow the necessary checks to take place should their clearance need to be extended, or they wish to be considered for further roles where a higher clearance level is required.
The British Army recruitment page sets out the eligibility criteria, including for those not resident in the UK that will require more checks.
Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Overseas Territory, British Antartic Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St Helena, Ascension & Tristan De Cunha, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri, Dhekelia and Episkopi in Cyprus and the Turks and Caicos Islands.