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Written question asked by Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative) on Friday, 17 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 October 2025. It was answered by Louise Sandher-Jones (Labour) on Monday, 27 October 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Defence: Training

Question

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.

Answer

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.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
83122
Session
2024-26
Related items
Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth
Monday, 8 September 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Subjects
Defence Training
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk