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Written question asked by James Cartlidge (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 June 2026. It was answered by Calvin Bailey (Labour) on Thursday, 16 July 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Reserve Forces

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will implement a cap on the number of reserve service days a reservist can complete in each of the remaining financial years of the current Parliament.

Answer

Defence will continue to reprioritise budgets on routine basis to respond to changing demands on Armed Forces capabilities. This includes Reserve Service Days.

Reservists provide a crucial capability to Defence; the standard requirement for a part-time volunteer reservist in the Armed Forces, is to complete a range of training commitments, depending on the specific unit, to qualify for the annual tax-free training bounty.

Last month, the Government awarded a 3.6% increase to base pay, reflected in reserve daily rates. Additionally, as part of the award, several elements will also increase by 3.6%, which includes the Volunteer Reserves Training Bounty (from training year 2026-27) and Recruitment and Retention Payments.

People are at the heart of Defence. This Government is committed to our reserves personnel, recognising their dedication as defence demands grow.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
10211
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Conditions of employment Reserve forces
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk