In reference to the Employment Tribunal of Milroy versus Ministry of Defence. The Ministry of Defence did not agree with the judgment of the Employment Tribunal in this matter, and an appeal against the decision was lodged with the Employment Appeals Tribunal. An appeal hearing date has now been set and is due to convene on 4 December 2025. As this is an ongoing legal process we are unable to comment further at this time.

The Government inherited a recruitment crisis from the last Government.

The Defence Secretary has undertaken to review the current recruitment policies and has already announced several changes to prior outdated approaches.

An update to Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950 Leaflet 6-7-7, which sets out the Medical Employment Standards for the Armed Forces, was published in August 2024 following an intensive period of review undertaken by clinical experts, Defence personnel staff and the recruiting agencies.

The updated JSP 950 Leaflet 6-7-7 is now in use and applies to both Regular and Reserve Forces. In the case of acne, the update confirms that candidates with acne that has resolved with or without treatment, are now able to join the Armed Forces.

The Defence Secretary has undertaken to review the current recruitment policies and has already announced several changes to prior outdated approaches.

An update to Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950 Leaflet 6-7-7, which sets out the Medical Employment Standards for the Armed Forces, was published in August 2024 following an intensive period of review undertaken by clinical experts, Defence personnel staff and the recruiting agencies.

The updated JSP 950 Leaflet 6-7-7 is now in use and applies to both Regular and Reserve Forces. In the case of mood disorders, including depression, the update confirms that candidates with a single episode of depressive disorder may be able to join the Armed Forces providing they meet certain criteria.

For mild or moderate episodes, candidates may be eligible providing the episode has lasted for less than two years and candidates have remained asymptomatic without relapse following the completion of all treatment for at least one year or for severe episodes for at least two years post treatment.

The number of Army Reserves under Future Soldier is optimal for forecasted future demands. Under Future Soldier plans, the Army Reserve will grow and better integrate with the Regular Army, and the British Army will become a whole force of over 100,000 regulars and reservists.

The total strength of the Territorial Army Group A (trained and untrained) as of 1 April 1998 was 51,100. In line with published statistics, the following table shows the strength of the Army Reserve as of 1 January 2022:

Notes:

The way the Army Reserve strength is measured has changed over time and Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) did not exist in 1998. The 51,100 therefore compares to the Group A Trained and Untrained Strength of 27,600 in 2022.

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts.

Since 1991 Jersey Field Squadron RE (M) have been mobilised eleven* times in support of UK military operations. All these mobilisations involved both personnel and equipment.

As Jersey's contribution to the UK Defence, the Field Squadron deploys trained reservists to support the Regular Army both on exercises and operations in UK and overseas and have served in both Iraq and Afghanistan as well as supporting Defence’s contribution to the cross Government operations during the COVID 19 pandemic.

*This figure has been drawn from records held on computer systems that have been migrated over the time period, and therefore reflects the current data available.

The number of Army Reserve Officers that deployed on operations between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017 was 70.

The London Regiment provides highly trained infantry soldiers to reinforce the five regiments of the Foot Guards on operations all over the world. There are no plans to change the current occupation or usage of St Johns Hill Army Reserve Centre.

We recognise and encourage volunteering and unpaid work opportunities, such as the Territorial Army or Army Cadets, as an excellent way of preparing for work and improving the claimant's prospects of finding work. Work coaches are encouraged to discuss voluntary and unpaid work opportunities where appropriate with a claimant. However, guidance does not list individual organisations.

The Department continues to develop and invest in the Army Reserves, including its infrastructure and estate, in line with commitments set out in the Reserves White Paper (Cm8655) published on 3 July 2013 and accompanying statement (Official Report, column 49WS) and through our wider estate optimisation plans.

It is not possible to identify commissions of direct entry Army Reserve or Territorial Army Officers before April 2012. Rounded figures for the financial years from 2012-13 to 2014-15 are shown in the table below:

I was with the Royal Wessex Yeomanry on Saturday, and in the gentlest possible way may I remind my hon. Friend—of whom I am extremely fond—that he promised me a short written brief on the subject? I look forward to discussing that with him and seeing what can be done.

What can the Minister for reserves tell us about the future of the Barnstaple Territorial Army centre? He knows that the existing unit does not want to relocate more than an hour’s drive to Exeter, so can they stay where they are?

The numbers of Army Reserve personnel subjected to summary hearings in each year since 2008 are shown in the following table:

Numbers have been rounded in line with Defence Statistics rounding policy and may not therefore represent the sum of their parts.

The summary hearing procedure is not authorised to dispense a sentence of imprisonment but may authorise the detention of an individual for up to 30 days.

Four of these hearings resulted in punishments of detention and the average number of days served was 14.

The estimated number of people who have joined the Territorial Army in Cumbria in the last five years is shown in the following table:

Information prior to April 2012 is not held in the format requested.

The number of ex-regular Army personnel that have joined the Territorial Army or Army Reserve since 1 April 2012 are shown in the following table:

Information prior to 1 April 2012 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

[holding answer 13 January 2014]: The estimated number of people who have joined the Territorial Army in Lancashire and the UK since April 2012 is shown in the following table. Information for the Ribble Valley constituency is not held in the format requested.

The reduction of regular forces and the increase in Reserves as part of Future Force 2020 will continue, although no final decisions have been made on Tranche 4 redundancies. The Future Force 2020 will build a balanced and adaptable ‘Whole Force’ of regular, reserve, Ministry of Defence civilian and contractors. It will provide military capability in a different way from the past to deliver the range and scale of military forces and skills required. The Reserves are not a direct replacement for the regulars, they will complement them, and it makes practical, financial and military sense for some skills and capabilities to be held in the Reserves.