Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which minister of his Department signed off the decisions to raise the upper age limit of recruitment in the Army Reserve from (a) 43 to 52 years old for former regular forces personnel and (b) 45 to 50 for those with specialist skills to become officers.

While decisions to raise the upper age limits for joining the Army Reserve do not require Ministerial authority, Ministers were aware of the changes.

The raising of the age of entry into the Army Reserve for ex-Regulars allows a greater number to join the Army Reserve and continue their military careers. In doing so they bring with them valuable skills and experience from their Regular service which is of benefit to the Army Reserve. In addition, the age limits for those with specialist skills were raised in May 2012. These are sensible measures to attract the best talent into the Army Reserve and which reflect the Government's intention to expand Reserve Forces.