Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his policy on reducing the size of the full-time British Army to 73,000 soldiers on its ability to respond to global threats.

The Ministry of Defence is reviewing whether it is now right to reduce the Regular Army to 73,000, as planned under Future Soldier. That process is ongoing.

Through an adaptive approach, personnel numbers and force design are determined to ensure Defence remains threat-led and the Armed Forces remain ready to deter and defend the nation should they be called upon to do so.

Any specific policy changes or updates required related to defence capability and force design will be determined once the update to the Defence Command Paper has concluded.