Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost was of each successfully trained recruit of (a) Phase 1 and 2 training at ITC Catterick, (b) Phase 1 training at ATC Pirbright, (c) Phase 1 training at ATR Bassingbourn and (d) Phase 1 training at AFC Harrogate including trainee salaries and associated costs in the most recent years for which figures are available.

The total cost of a successful recruit at each establishment, based on their respective output, is as follows:

ITC Catterick £33,706

ATC Pirbright £20,253

ATR Bassingbourn £24,187

AFC Harrogate £68,751

This is based on full costs to the Army’s budget for 2013-14, and does not include infrastructure and equipment costs as these are managed collectively across a number of sites and equipment fleets and cannot be attributed to individual units. The cost for ATR Bassingbourn is based on costs for 2012/13 as this was the last year that Phase 1 training was carried out at that location.

All Junior Entry recruits undertake their initial training at AFC Harrogate. They are provided with highly valuable vocational training opportunities which result in some 85% leaving initial training with Level 2 qualifications in literacy and numeracy. The greater length of service of Junior Entry personnel results in the Army having to recruit and train fewer personnel. This training contributes not only to individual development, but to society in the long term.