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Reserve Forces: Finance

Answer

While the Strategic Defence Review outlines ambitions to expand and better utilise the Strategic Reserve, former Regular Service personnel and Reservists do not attract pay or pensions when they are not actively serving. The costs are typically only incurred if the Strategic Reserve is mobilised in extremis.

This week, this Government published the Defence Investment Plan. This is the next step in delivering the vision set out in the Strategic Defence Review and placing defence on a stronger, more sustainable footing.

The DIP is backed by a £15 billion increase in the MOD’s spending power over the next four years above what was agreed at last year’s Spending Review. The £74 billion allocated to MOD next year (2027-28) is £20 billion more for our Armed Forces than the last year of the previous Government and the budget will continue to grow in real terms for the rest of this Parliament. By 2029-30 it will be 27% higher in real terms than in 2023-24. In total we will invest £298 billion in defence over the next four years.

This includes £4.2 billion investment on Reserves between FY2026-27 and FY2029-30.

There is no specific total budget allocated to the Strategic Reserve. The Ministry of Defence does not routinely publish specific financial plans for the Reserve Forces, as these funds are dispersed across individual service commands and depend on fluctuating operational requirements.

The UK is putting defence first. MOD’s budget will grow faster over this Parliament than any other major Government department.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

12766

Session

2026-27

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Finance Reserve forces

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk