Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help support the Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
This Government greatly appreciates all its Reserves and Cadets and is committed to making sure all Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations (RFCAs) receive the support they both need and deserve.
All RFCAs from across the thirteen regionally focused RFCAs, including Wessex, receive the same level of support from the Ministry of Defence (MOD). While the MOD provides policy guidance and the appropriate budget to cover the RFCAs’ operating costs and contractual requirements, it is the single Service commands and the supporting agencies (such as the Defence Infrastructure Organisation) that provide the bulk of support on a day-to-day basis. That support is driven by formalised Service Level Agreements with agreed Key Performance Indicators; these are regularly reviewed to ensure compliance and delivery.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many sites for reserve forces managed by (a) the Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations and (b) his Department are (i) unusable and (ii) partly unusable because of (A) boiler breakdowns and (B) leaking roofs.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
All Reserve Forces and Cadets sites are managed by the Reserves Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA) and not the Department.
The Volunteer Estate (VE) contains some 5112 buildings, of which 59 (1.15%) are fully or partly unusable due to boiler breakdowns and leaking roofs. Further details can be found in the table below:
Total No. of Buildings Affected | Buildings unusable | Boiler Failure | Leaking Roof | Buildings partly unusable | Boiler Failure | Leaking Roof |
59 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 42 | 17 | 25 |
We are committed to growing the Reserves and Cadets. As part of the plan to do so, we are looking at how we make better use of the resources and infrastructure available.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to encourage people to sign up to the Reserve Forces in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The three Services routinely undertake Reserve recruitment activity nationally and in the Northwest of England.
The Royal Navy has recently commissioned a nationwide Maritime Reserve recruitment campaign which will go live next month. Both the Royal Navy Reserve and Royal Marines Reserve are located at HMS Eaglet in the City of Liverpool and routinely undertake engagement activities; these may include Fylde and Lancashire in the future.
The Army is increasing recruitment into the Army Reserves, including a digital and physical marketing campaign; a renewed focus on training and upskilling courses and improved financial incentives. For the former, this includes a two-week recruiting surge in the region commencing 4 July 2025, involving 17 recruiters from four counties, which includes stands in town centres and shopping centres in Blackburn and Blackpool among other local cities and towns in the Northwest. They will also have a presence at festivals and at shows such as Blackpool Music Festival; Blackpool Prom; Barrow Festival of Transport; Festival of Works (Lakes College) and Silloth Show; and at employer events such as ‘Breakfast with the Lions’ in Accrington and ‘Brunch with the Lions’ in Barrow Bridge.
The RAF Reserves recruiting initiatives include support to a team building day at BAe Systems in Blackburn, and providing resource to the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association-led Exercise NORTHERN EXPOSURE. This showcases Reserves opportunities to employers, offering personal development opportunities and military insight. The North Region Support Wing also has a dedicated recruiter post, based in Liverpool, which provides support to Reserve recruiting processing and engagement in the Northwest.
Asked by: Alison Taylor (Labour - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support army reserve units in Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Department recognises the invaluable contributions made by the Army Reserves to Defence. Ensuring they have adequate support remains both a priority of mine, and the Ministry of Defence.
Paisley is home to the 102 Field Squadron, a subordinate of the 71 Engineer regiment, an Army Reserve regiment of the Royal Engineers.
The 102 Squadron is supported in the same way as all elements of the Army Reserve, including in terms of equipment and medical and welfare support. Engagement with local employers helps to secure their support for their reservists, delivered through the Lowland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association and 51 Infantry Brigade.
Opportunities for high quality, role-related training is directed and delivered by 71 Engineer Regiment to ensure that 102 Squadron is prepared for its military role, whilst also providing personal development opportunities for those that take part in the training.
Asked by: Lord Colgrain (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their projection of the upfront costs and additional annual costs, by comparison with the most recent year for which costs data are available, of proceeding with the merger of the Council of Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association and the 13 Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations into a single executive, with a national office and a set of regional organisations.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence does not have a projection and comparison of the kind described. The 2019 Review of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCAs) recommended that the Council of RFCAs (CRFCA) and the 13 RFCAs should be merged into a single Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). The NDPB implementation work was paused due to it failing to obtain a legislative slot in the last Parliament; this work has now re-commenced.
The Review acknowledged that it would be difficult to calculate exact costs until the NDPB organisational design is finalised, and it also noted that it expected that any upfront investment in establishing the NDPB would be recouped in the medium-term through improved commercialisation of the Reserves and Cadets estate. It is expected that annual savings and efficiencies will be made by having a central co-ordinated body, rather than the current model with 13 RFCAs each undertaking very similar work and on occasions duplicating activity.
Asked by: Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assistance the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations provide for recruiting reservists and cadet instructors.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCAs) offer support to recruitment in multiple ways.
The RFCAs provide media and communications support, including through the provision of small grants from regionally generated income for both Reserve and Cadet units to produce recruiting materials. The RFCA communications teams also support Cadet units with social media aimed at increasing awareness of the cadets and to encourage young people and adults to join. The results have been significant; recent social media campaigns have seen a 200% increase in expressions of interest.
The RFCAs also showcase the Reserves and Cadets with bespoke short films at Lord-Lieutenants’ Awards ceremonies, reinforced with other media around those events. Annual online Cadet Adult Recognition Awards are hugely popular – highlights are then used to advertise adult volunteering on our social media platforms. RFCAs also support County shows and other engagement opportunities that support and enable recruitment.
The RFCA’s Permanent Support Staff manage the in-flow of Cadet Force Adult Volunteers to cadet units, including some recruitment process administration, and it’s Volunteer Estate output actively supports recruitment by providing modern, well-maintained Cadet training centre or Army Reserve Centres that are attractive to potential new recruits.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the his Department's report entitled Reserve Forces Review 2030: Unlocking the reserves’ potential to strengthen a resilient and global Britain, published in May 2021, what targeted programmes exist to support those in (a) higher education and (b) further education to join the Reserves.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
In line with recommendations made by the Haythornthwaite Review and the Pan Defence Skills Framework, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) believes there is value in recognising and accrediting the learning, experience and qualifications achieved by individuals outside of Defence.
There are a number of targeted programmes allowing those in higher and further education to experience the Armed Forces and potential careers in the Regular or Reserve Forces, including University Royal Navy Units (URNU), University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron students. As an example, since 2015 the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) has been running a condensed fast-track Phase 1 training programme in the summer months to deliberately align with longer student vacations. Since 2021 the programme has been extended to officer cadets of the URNU, with seamless transfer to the RNR as an option for successful trainees.
There are currently no specific funding options to incentivise higher or further education students to join the Maritime Reserves or Royal Air Force Reserves. Students wishing to join the Army Reserves as Officers can apply for a financial bounty for £1,200, paid in two stages, the first payment on enlistment and the second on completion of their training. The Army also has four support schemes available for students in sixth form and higher and further education, ranging from Army Scholarships worth £3,000 per candidate to a Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship whereby Candidates have their tuition fees paid and receive £5,000 per annum for three university years.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
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 taking steps to increase recognition and accreditation of relevant civilian courses to facilitate recruitment of university students into the Reserves.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
In line with recommendations made by the Haythornthwaite Review and the Pan Defence Skills Framework, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) believes there is value in recognising and accrediting the learning, experience and qualifications achieved by individuals outside of Defence.
There are a number of targeted programmes allowing those in higher and further education to experience the Armed Forces and potential careers in the Regular or Reserve Forces, including University Royal Navy Units (URNU), University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron students. As an example, since 2015 the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) has been running a condensed fast-track Phase 1 training programme in the summer months to deliberately align with longer student vacations. Since 2021 the programme has been extended to officer cadets of the URNU, with seamless transfer to the RNR as an option for successful trainees.
There are currently no specific funding options to incentivise higher or further education students to join the Maritime Reserves or Royal Air Force Reserves. Students wishing to join the Army Reserves as Officers can apply for a financial bounty for £1,200, paid in two stages, the first payment on enlistment and the second on completion of their training. The Army also has four support schemes available for students in sixth form and higher and further education, ranging from Army Scholarships worth £3,000 per candidate to a Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship whereby Candidates have their tuition fees paid and receive £5,000 per annum for three university years.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what funding options are available to students in (a) higher education and (b) further education who commit to joining the Reserves.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
In line with recommendations made by the Haythornthwaite Review and the Pan Defence Skills Framework, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) believes there is value in recognising and accrediting the learning, experience and qualifications achieved by individuals outside of Defence.
There are a number of targeted programmes allowing those in higher and further education to experience the Armed Forces and potential careers in the Regular or Reserve Forces, including University Royal Navy Units (URNU), University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron students. As an example, since 2015 the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) has been running a condensed fast-track Phase 1 training programme in the summer months to deliberately align with longer student vacations. Since 2021 the programme has been extended to officer cadets of the URNU, with seamless transfer to the RNR as an option for successful trainees.
There are currently no specific funding options to incentivise higher or further education students to join the Maritime Reserves or Royal Air Force Reserves. Students wishing to join the Army Reserves as Officers can apply for a financial bounty for £1,200, paid in two stages, the first payment on enlistment and the second on completion of their training. The Army also has four support schemes available for students in sixth form and higher and further education, ranging from Army Scholarships worth £3,000 per candidate to a Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship whereby Candidates have their tuition fees paid and receive £5,000 per annum for three university years.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to conclude his Department's review into cadets and reserves; and whether he plans to publish that review.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The review of Reserves and Cadets is underway and is closely aligned with the Ministry of Defence’s wider Strategic Defence Review which will report in the first half of 2025. Once Ministers have considered the findings of the Reserves and Cadets review, a decision will be taken about publication.