Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Oral Answer of 23 October 2017, Official Report, column 11, on army personnel, if he will estimate the number of Army personnel needed to generate a war-fighting division.

The Government is committed to maintaining an Army that is able to field a war-fighting division.

Under the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 the Army's principal contribution to Joint Force 2025 is a division of up to 40,000 regular and reserve troops. In addition, within its remaining total force strength the Army would need to retain the ability to deliver its national resilience and fixed tasks, and to deploy a follow-on force.

All aspects of Defence will be considered in the National Security Capability Review, including how the Army will deliver the division. The Review is on-going and no decisions have been put to Ministers.