Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Forces of 5 March 2018, Official Report, column 20, what estimate he has made of the cost of moving 150 personnel to act as role models on the frontline for recruiting.

Under improvements to its recruiting processes the Army, working with Capita, is implementing a new operating model that combines the current centralised call-centre approach with more regionalised activity. This will see an adjusted mix of professional civilian recruiters and representative, role-model soldiers engaging directly with individual candidates to nurture them through the process. The new model is intended to improve the number of applicants converted into enlistments.

There will be no additional cost. This improved model is a part of the Army-Capita Recruiting Partnering Project and will be delivered within the existing financial and benefits approval assumptions.