To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK service personnel have been stationed at the British Army Training Unit Suffield in each of the last 10 financial years in a (a) permanent and (b) temporary capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK service personnel have been stationed at the British Army Training Unit Suffield in each of the last 10 financial years in a (a) permanent and (b) temporary capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many permanent staff were stationed at British Army Training Unit Suffield in each of the last 10 financial years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many permanent staff were stationed at British Army Training Unit Suffield in each of the last 10 financial years.

My hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I am releasing this statement to the House today to provide Parliament with a further update on the Armoured Cavalry Programme, commonly known as Ajax, following issues raised on Exercise Titan Storm...

My hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I am releasing this statement to the House today to provide Parliament with a further update on the Armoured Cavalry Programme, commonly known as Ajax, following issues raised on Exercise Titan Storm...

I am releasing this statement to the House today to provide Parliament with a further update on the Armoured Cavalry Programme, commonly known as Ajax, following issues raised on Exercise Titan Storm in November 2025.

Since my last update to this House, where I provided the findings of the Ministerial Review,...

I am releasing this statement to the House today to provide Parliament with a further update on the Armoured Cavalry Programme, commonly known as Ajax, following issues raised on Exercise Titan Storm in November 2025.

Since my last update to this House, where I provided the findings of the Ministerial Review,...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army cadets there were in (a) July 2024 and (b) March 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army cadets there were in (a) July 2024 and (b) March 2026.

Motion that this House has considered the Army Reserve. Agreed to on question.

Motion that this House has considered the Army Reserve. Agreed to on question.

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the Army Reserve.

It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mrs Barker. It is also a pleasure to have the Minister in her place; she brings with her a distinguished service record and is recognised across the House as...

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the Army Reserve.

It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mrs Barker. It is also a pleasure to have the Minister in her place; she brings with her a distinguished service record and is recognised across the House as...

I congratulate the right hon. Member on securing this debate. I declare an interest as a former reservist for 11 and a half years. I used to have hair then—that is how long ago it was. He will be aware that as of 1 January 2026, the trained strength of...

I congratulate the right hon. Member on securing this debate. I declare an interest as a former reservist for 11 and a half years. I used to have hair then—that is how long ago it was. He will be aware that as of 1 January 2026, the trained strength of...

I know that the hon. Member has a long-standing commitment to the cadets and the military in general. The cadets is a recognised pipeline into the armed forces, and I am sure the Minister recognises its importance in giving people their first taste of military experience. Again, I think that...

I know that the hon. Member has a long-standing commitment to the cadets and the military in general. The cadets is a recognised pipeline into the armed forces, and I am sure the Minister recognises its importance in giving people their first taste of military experience. Again, I think that...

Will the right hon. Member give way?

Will the right hon. Member give way?

That commitment is the most important point, but it can wait until after the hon. Member’s welcome intervention.

That commitment is the most important point, but it can wait until after the hon. Member’s welcome intervention.

Before the right hon. Member leaves his first point, which I absolutely agree with, I want to pay tribute to the 6th Battalion the Rifles in Dorchester, the only infantry reserve in the south-west. Their proud track record includes service in Mali, Cyprus and elsewhere with British forces. The issue...

Before the right hon. Member leaves his first point, which I absolutely agree with, I want to pay tribute to the 6th Battalion the Rifles in Dorchester, the only infantry reserve in the south-west. Their proud track record includes service in Mali, Cyprus and elsewhere with British forces. The issue...

The hon. Member is right. I represent the rural constituency of North East Cambridgeshire, and I recognise the point that he raises; that plays into the issue of overall numbers and into the second point that I am coming on to, which is about the commitments for the existing numbers.

Let...

The hon. Member is right. I represent the rural constituency of North East Cambridgeshire, and I recognise the point that he raises; that plays into the issue of overall numbers and into the second point that I am coming on to, which is about the commitments for the existing numbers.

Let...

There are two points that could reinforce the right hon. Member’s argument. First, I served in the Territorial Army, and it taught me to read a map; the reserves can teach people skills that will be useful in their lives. Secondly, many peoples’ lives are disorganised, but being in the...

There are two points that could reinforce the right hon. Member’s argument. First, I served in the Territorial Army, and it taught me to read a map; the reserves can teach people skills that will be useful in their lives. Secondly, many peoples’ lives are disorganised, but being in the...

I completely agree. The Government say they are committed to tackling things such as the cost of living; everyone in the House is very worried about the growth in youth unemployment and other pressures, and we want society to come together in more integrated ways. The armed forces are a...

I completely agree. The Government say they are committed to tackling things such as the cost of living; everyone in the House is very worried about the growth in youth unemployment and other pressures, and we want society to come together in more integrated ways. The armed forces are a...

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for giving way a second time; he is being more than generous. I should declare an interest: my son-in-law is a serving officer in the Royal Air Force and my daughter was, until recently, the same. One of the things that hits morale in...

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for giving way a second time; he is being more than generous. I should declare an interest: my son-in-law is a serving officer in the Royal Air Force and my daughter was, until recently, the same. One of the things that hits morale in...

Again, there is a lot of agreement in the House about these points. With that in mind, I will suggest a couple of potential solutions—I always think it is better to come with solutions than with problems—and ask the Minister for an update.

First, it would be great to have a...

Again, there is a lot of agreement in the House about these points. With that in mind, I will suggest a couple of potential solutions—I always think it is better to come with solutions than with problems—and ask the Minister for an update.

First, it would be great to have a...

On the comments by the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Jamie Stone), I recall my time in the Royal Artillery during the Falklands war. This relates to the issue of whether a person can retain their job should they be sent to the front. We were not...

On the comments by the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Jamie Stone), I recall my time in the Royal Artillery during the Falklands war. This relates to the issue of whether a person can retain their job should they be sent to the front. We were not...

It is worth putting on the record that there are many good employers who recognise that. At the same time, we want to make it as easy as possible for those willing to be reservists to do so. I want to flag that and some of the consistency across Government.

I...

It is worth putting on the record that there are many good employers who recognise that. At the same time, we want to make it as easy as possible for those willing to be reservists to do so. I want to flag that and some of the consistency across Government.

I...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker. I am grateful to the right hon. Member for North East Cambridgeshire (Steve Barclay) for securing today’s debate on this hugely important topic, as he rightly noted. I am a member of the Strategic Reserve myself, and I am...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker. I am grateful to the right hon. Member for North East Cambridgeshire (Steve Barclay) for securing today’s debate on this hugely important topic, as he rightly noted. I am a member of the Strategic Reserve myself, and I am...