Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to include Reserve troops in overseas training missions.

Reservists are currently members of short term training teams in a number of different locations around the world. On 13 October 2016, I announced that we had made four new call-out orders under section 56(1B) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 (ref HCWS190). One of these orders was to continue to allow reservists to be called into permanent service to support Defence Engagement activities (for example the provision of short term training teams and military capacity building overseas). 171 Reservists were called into permanent service for Defence Engagement activity between September 2015 and September 2016. Reservists provide invaluable support to the Train, Advise and Assist mission in Afghanistan.

The force structure on Overseas Training Missions is tailored to the requirement and therefore varies depending on the situation. Reservists are always considered when planning for future missions and will be utilised if appropriate.