Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the level of recruitment for specialist engineering, cyber and digital defence roles required by the Defence Investment Plan.

The Department keeps workforce requirements under continuous review. The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) includes investment in specialist engineering, cyber, digital and data skills, alongside initiatives to improve recruitment, retention and workforce development, including cyber training, digital skills programmes, apprenticeships, bursaries and sponsored education schemes.

The DIP also supports the Government's broader commitment that one in ten civil servants will work in digital roles by 2030, helping to build the cyber, digital and engineering workforce needed to deliver future capability.

These measures are intended to ensure Defence has access to the specialist skills required to deliver the capabilities set out in the DIP.