Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 47 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what his planned timeline is for delivering the Defence Skills Framework.

Defence is progressing the implementation of the Pan Defence Skills Framework (PDSF), which is the Defence Skills Framework referenced in the 2025 Defence Industrial Strategy. The PDSF represents a transformative shift in how Defence understands, develops and deploys skills across both military and civilian workforces, supporting Defence’s ambition to become a more agile, skills-based organisation.

Programme governance is in place and Tranche 1 of activity is underway. The onboarding of the single Services and the Civil Service (those under the pre-Defence Reform structure of MOD Main) is scheduled to begin from December 2025, in a phased rollout.

Initial implementation has already seen:

• The first trial cohort for Engineering (Army, Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Navy (RN)) onboarded, with the enablement of the Skills-Based Supplement, which went live on 22 April 2025. The Skills Based Supplement trial is informing a new flexible and targeted approach to remuneration that aligns with Defence's transition to a Skills-Based Organisation. This trial provides 3,200 engineering service personnel with payments of up to £2,700, which will help Defence evaluate wider implementation of skills-based rewards to enhance retention in highly demanded skills across the Armed Forces.
• The RN and RAF onboarded their first cross-skill area cohort for the Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) profession on 13 October 2025.

Mass onboarding is expected to follow:

• The RN and RAF are preparing to begin broader onboarding from December 2025.
• The Army is expected to follow in early 2026, with onboarding phased by rank.
• MOD Main civil service onboarding is anticipated to commence from February/March 2026.

Looking ahead, Tranche 2 will expand PDSF to cover additional skills, onboarding of Arms-Length Bodies, and refine the underpinning technology. This will ensure Defence has the agility to align skills with future workforce demands, evolving technology, and the challenges of a rapidly changing security environment.