Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of training area availability on Army Cadet Force training in the next five years.

Army Cadets Branch will continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure that the needs of cadets are recognised and considered in the priority of Defence Training Estate (DTE) allocation. Six camps and associated training areas have been ringfenced for cadet summer camps for 2025, through the DTE allocation process, to provide access to camp for c32,000 cadets this summer. It is anticipated that similar arrangements will be made for 2026 and beyond.

The Government remains convinced of the value of cadets and wherever possible we have taken steps to maintain the quality of the cadet experience that we offer. To this end I have directed that a review is carried out, closely aligned with the Strategic Defence Review, to determine how we can deliver more cadet activity and increase the size and offer of the Cadet Forces.