Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen McPartland and Tobias Ellwood

Monday 23rd April 2018 Commons Chamber

[Stephen McPartland (Stevenage) (Con)]

10. What plans he has to use membership of the armed forces to promote social mobility.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Tobias Ellwood)]

The armed forces aim to attract talent from the widest possible base from across the UK. The skills, education, training and experience, as well as enhanced reverence for our country, enable recruits to progress as far as their aptitude will take them, regardless of their socio-economic background, educational status or ethnicity.

[Stephen McPartland]

We know that in many of our cities at the moment young people feel trapped and that their only life choice is which gang to join. Will my right hon. Friend explain what the armed forces will do to help reach into those communities and help those young people transform their life chances?