Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps has he taken to improve the morale of staff within his Department.

Within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) we are working to create the right environment so that staff can contribute as effectively as possible and feel that the MOD is a great place to work. In line with the wider Civil Service, we focus on the principle of engagement rather than purely on morale. We undertake the annual Civil Service People Survey which enables us to track engagement over time.

Engagement is a priority for our senior leaders. A recent Leading Defence event included a discussion session on engagement to equip managers to take action locally. The 2017/18 capability building programme 'Leading Through Uncertainty' focussed on the relationship between the line manager and the individual. Initiatives such as these will ultimately improve morale and engagement. Local business areas also hold engagement events such as the self-organised 'Better Me Month', focussing on improving individual and collective resilience.