Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who is leading the investigation into unauthorised social media use by a British Army regiment.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Army has investigated a number of social media posts which were published in error and without correct authorisation. Those posts have been removed and updated guidance has been issued to Regimental HQs on the appropriate use of regimental websites and social media pages. This work has been conducted as part of Army routine business, with no additional costs incurred.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the findings of the investigation into unauthorised social media use by a British Army regiment will be made publicly available.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Army has investigated a number of social media posts which were published in error and without correct authorisation. Those posts have been removed and updated guidance has been issued to Regimental HQs on the appropriate use of regimental websites and social media pages. This work has been conducted as part of Army routine business, with no additional costs incurred.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of the investigation into unauthorised social media use by a British Army regiment.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Army has investigated a number of social media posts which were published in error and without correct authorisation. Those posts have been removed and updated guidance has been issued to Regimental HQs on the appropriate use of regimental websites and social media pages. This work has been conducted as part of Army routine business, with no additional costs incurred.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the terms of reference are for the investigation into unauthorised social media posts by a British Army regiment.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Army has investigated a number of social media posts which were published in error and without correct authorisation. Those posts have been removed and updated guidance has been issued to Regimental HQs on the appropriate use of regimental websites and social media pages. This work has been conducted as part of Army routine business, with no additional costs incurred.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Army's submission to the Strategic Defence Review, whether it is his policy that the Army (a) fights and (b) operates differently by rapidly integrating technology at every level to multiply (i) lethality, (ii) mass and (iii) effect.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Strategic Defence Review will determine the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty-first century, including for the British Army. The Review has been considering all aspects of Defence, such as the opportunities for modernisation and transformation, including through the rapid and consistent application of new technologies.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timeline is for concluding the investigation into unauthorised social media use by a British Army regiment; and whether he plans to make a Statement to Parliament on the findings of the investigation.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Army has investigated a number of social media posts which were published in error and without correct authorisation. Those posts have been removed and updated guidance has been issued to Regimental HQs on the appropriate use of regimental websites and social media pages. This work has been conducted as part of Army routine business, with no additional costs incurred.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 12029 on Army and with reference to the keynote recording of the Chief of the General Staff at the RUSI Land Warfare Conference 2024, published on 23 June 2024, whether it is a formal departmental target to double the lethality of the British Army by 2027 and treble it by 2030.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Ministers are fully supportive of the Chief of the General Staff’s ambition to double the fighting power of the British Army by 2027 and treble it by 2030, which is in line with the Departmental priorities for the British Army.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the size of the Army Cadet force.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The merits of the Army Cadet Force and the societal benefits of all Army cadets are well recognised, improving self-efficacy, enhancing ability to communicate, and strengthening physical and mental resilience leading to better employability prospects.
Work is currently underway to understand opportunities for expansion across Ministry of Defence Cadets. Although it is too early to make an accurate assessment on projected numbers, 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.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to increase the number of British Army personnel.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Down (Alex Easton) on 13 May 2025 to Question 50001.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Army's submission to the Strategic Defence Review, whether it is his policy that the Army fights from the land as an enabler for multi-domain operations as part of the Integrated Force alongside allies and partners.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) will determine the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty-first century, including for the British Army. The Review has been considering all aspects of Defence, including the major features of the force structure needed to create the necessary integrated multi-domain Defence capability of the future. The SDR has also been considering the UK's international partnerships and alliances, and how these can be strengthened in the cause of collective security and deterrence.