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Army Restructuring: Future Soldier
25 November 2021
Lead MP
Ben Wallace
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
TaxationEmploymentForeign Affairs
Other Contributors: 20
At a Glance
Ben Wallace raised concerns about army restructuring: future soldier in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
In his statement, Ben Wallace announced the details of the Army's plans for modernisation under 'Future Soldier'. He emphasised the need to adapt to new and proliferating threats such as humanitarian crises, violent extremism, proxy forces, and great power competition. With a £41.3 billion investment in Army equipment over this decade (an increase of £8.6 billion), Wallace outlined six key elements for the future Army: globally engaged, NATO warfighting contributor, enhanced by state-of-the-art equipment, innovative and experimental capabilities, integrated regulars and reserves, and beneficial to all parts of the UK union. He mentioned substantial progress in global engagement and warfighting, including forming a new special operations brigade and establishing NATO holding areas. Equipment recapitalisation includes transitioning from Warrior to Boxer armoured personnel carriers starting 2023, resolving issues with Ajax vehicles, upgrading Apache attack helicopters, and investing in long-range precision strike capabilities. The restructuring of infantry divisions aims for greater flexibility without deleting cap badges or involving military redundancies. Future Army numbers will slightly decrease but still remain over 100,000 strong while ensuring an increased presence across the devolved nations. Wallace also discussed plans to streamline force structures and enhance cyber and space domain capabilities.
Andrew Murrison
Con
West Dorset
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that it is very difficult to maintain morale in the military when there is a constant stream of statements, reviews and policy changes? He also asked if he could confirm whether the UK’s long-established training base in Canada will close.
Minister reply
The Minister responded by emphasising the importance of maintaining morale and ensuring soldiers have the right equipment and support. Regarding the Canadian training base, he confirmed that it would remain open but acknowledged discussions about changes to training locations.
Sue Hayman
Lab
Worsley and Eccles South
Question
The MP questioned the impact of cuts on women in the Army, their career progression opportunities, and support structures. She also raised concerns over pension rights and benefits for female soldiers.
Minister reply
The Minister assured that the modernisation programme prioritises human capital investment, including family assistance and career development plans. He emphasised the importance of supporting women's careers in the Army and reiterated commitments to fair treatment regarding pensions and benefits.
Chris Philp
Con
Croydon South
Question
Does the Minister agree that the UK is facing an existential threat from Russia, just as NATO was formed to counter Soviet aggression? How will the Army's new structures help respond effectively?
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the serious nature of threats from Russia and emphasised the importance of maintaining strong alliances like NATO. He stated that the restructuring would enhance the Army’s readiness for high-end warfighting capabilities, aligning with NATO standards.
John Healey
Lab
Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Question
Healey questioned why despite Russia's threat, there is no clear mission or role for the Army. He criticised the delay in equipping a war-fighting division until 2030 and questioned cuts to infantry numbers while recruiting more MOD managers.
Minister reply
Wallace responded by clarifying that an armoured division exists and will receive £8 billion investment, with new equipment replacing older ones like Warrior. He acknowledged potential capability gaps but emphasised the need for modernization. He also noted a 0.2% increase in real defence expenditure.
Tobias Ellwood
Con
Bournemouth East
Question
Ellwood commended the Secretary of State on adapting to financial constraints but warned that our shrinking armed forces would struggle with more proactive foreign policy. He highlighted increasing global dangers and migration issues.
Minister reply
Wallace agreed on the world's increased danger and insecurity, emphasising his commitment to aligning ambition with funding. He mentioned an additional £2 billion since the comprehensive spending review, allowing for 500 extra soldiers and modernisation efforts.
Douglas Chapman
SNP
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
Question
The SNP asks about compatibility with allied frameworks for the newly raised Ranger Regiment, adaptation to environmental changes due to climate change, a total overhaul of procurement given past failures, and integration of Scottish personnel in the initiative as well as dealing with skills shortages.
Minister reply
The Minister outlines steps being taken to ensure compatibility with NATO allies while also focusing on potential deployment elsewhere. He discusses the challenges faced by troubled programmes like Ajax and Morpheus, emphasising a commitment to transparency and openness. The minister also addresses concerns about procurement failures and management issues in Scotland.
Mark Francois
Con
Rayleigh and Wickford
Question
The MP questions the Secretary of State's ability to take personal grip on troubled programmes such as Ajax and Morpheus, asking for assurances that his officials will provide truthful briefings.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges issues with Ajax and Morpheus and discusses steps being taken to address them, including examining emails and considering external judicial personnel to investigate problems.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Question
Can the Secretary of State say with his hand on heart that the reduction in size of the British Army will not discourage young people from pursuing a military career?
Minister reply
The Minister emphasises that this Army will be more exciting, rewarding, and enabling for young people. He highlights opportunities for career growth, flexible integration of reserves and regulars, investment in accommodation, and determination to have soldiers out exercising around the world.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
Will the Secretary of State commit to a future for the Army officer selection board at Leighton House in his constituency?
Minister reply
The Minister confirms that the regular commissions board will remain in Westbury and expresses delight about this decision. He mentions opportunities for investment and logistics command tasks.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Question
The Northumberland Royal Fusiliers was first given the freedom of Newcastle in 1948, and the freedom parade through the streets of Newcastle with bayonets fixed is a symbol of the ongoing links between the fusiliers and Newcastle. Will the Secretary of State set out how this reorganisation will maintain and enhance those strong and prosperous links, which are so important both for public confidence and for recruitment?
Minister reply
First, on what we will see in the hon. Member’s part of the world, we will see one addition. While there are bases that have been reprieved or saved—the new bases in Wales—and the Newcastle site will double in size. We will continue to expand in the north-east and invest in our soldiers.
Desmond Swayne
Con
New Forest West
Question
When Geoff Hoon announced an exponential increase in the roles for females in the armed forces, I welcomed it from the Opposition Benches, but praying in aid St Bernard of Clairvaux, I pointed out that there would be an administrative overhead to be paid. For that I was rewarded with an early-day motion concerning the disgraceful behaviour of the Member for New Forest West, but given the way things have turned out, my words were prophetic. I have another prophecy I would like to share with the Minister for the Armed Forces, if he will indulge me with a short meeting.
Minister reply
The Minister for the Armed Forces will be delighted to hear the prophecy offered. We should and we will do more not only to encourage, but to keep women in the armed forces. On 29 November, we shall submit to the Defence Committee our response to the women in the armed forces report, led by my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham (Sarah Atherton).
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
First, I thank the Secretary of State for his clear commitment to the job in hand, and I welcome the additional Royal Irish Regiment commitment he mentioned and the increased cadet reserve forces for Northern Ireland. On the ground in Northern Ireland, there will clearly be a greater footprint and extra people available. However, may I kindly comment on the overall reported 9,000 smaller size of the Army as a whole? Even with the additions he has referred to, there will be reduced numbers, and that is somewhat concerning. Even though our soldiers are still the best in the world—we certainly relate to that—will this not mean reduced capability, and surely we must have soldiers in cyber-space along with soldiers in ground space?
Minister reply
I understand the hon. Member’s point about the overall size. We will obviously be a more productive Army, but we are also going to use equipment that needs fewer people and crews to deliver. One of the Ranger battalions will be in Northern Ireland; it will go to the esprit de corps of Northern Ireland or Ulster soldiers.
Question
I commend the Secretary of State for being clearly on top of and in command of his brief. I welcome the plans for a fully deployable, fully modernised, full-scale warfighting division. That is planned for 2030, but major serious threats may not wait until then. In also welcoming the plans for the new Ranger Regiment, when will elements of that at battalion scale be deployable?
Minister reply
First, I know my hon. Friend is keen in the Parachute Regiment world, and there is an enhancement to the Air Assault Brigade with an extra unit going in there. The Rangers will not deploy as a battalion but in teams; their first battalion will get up to capability by 2022—next year.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Question
York is the UK’s oldest military city and we are very proud to have the home headquarters of 1st Division and 4th Division 2 Signal Regiment. We believe that long history should continue. However, with a decrease in the size of our armed forces, we are particularly concerned about the loss of soft power, which makes an amazing contribution to de-escalating risk around the world. Will the Secretary of State commit to investing more in that soft power and de-escalation, and will he look again at the opportunity York provides not just for the new resilient home reservists but for our regulars, who love to come to York? That does help with recruitment, too.
Minister reply
I understand. The hon. Lady should be pleased that the new 19 reserve brigade will be based in her constituency. We are creating eight battalions-worth of regiments designed for security force assistance, training and resilience.
Question
Yesterday when I looked at the faces of young soldiers outside Parliament, I believe I saw a number of people who were haunted by their experiences. Will my right hon. Friend therefore make sure that in his people plan he develops our war fighting resilience by taking concrete steps to better equip members of our armed forces for what they will see on operations and better help them recover their mental health afterwards?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes an important point. What people want to do is changing, and so too is their own personal resilience; this is a different youth generation from mine, and we have to move as fast as we can to keep up with that. We need to improve our training.
Question
This year we have seen a lot of valuable discussion about women’s safety and rights, and rightly so. Unfortunately, we also know the armed forces do not have the best record on these issues, so, on White Ribbon Day, will the Secretary of State confirm that these reforms will prioritise the safety of women soldiers and set out the steps being taken to do so?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady tempts me to get ahead of the report I have to give first to the Defence Committee. We do have steps in place, but I will let the Committee criticise my attempts when it gets to them.
Paul Holmes
Con
Hamble Valley
Question
I welcome the Secretary of State’s statement. Can he confirm that Army numbers will stay above 100,000 personnel including reserve forces, and will he outline how the greater agility and flexibility he has described as being created will improve our deployment capabilities when required?
Minister reply
One way we want to use the hubs is to have longer tours in places, rather than just a few weeks. In some of our overseas exercises we used to go there, get off the plane, do the exercise and then get back on the plane; we might as well have gone no further than around the corner. We had no influence in the region and learned nothing about it. Now we will see much more exercising in places like Oman and Kenya to enable us to be forward and present.
Question
I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement. As a member of the armed forces parliamentary scheme I was lucky enough to visit the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, a truly outstanding facility training young soldiers and creating life-changing opportunities. How will the Army’s training facilities support the restructure outlined today?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend has prompted me to visit Harrogate. One of the biggest mistakes in “Options for Change”, a defence review I served under in 1990, was getting rid of what were then called junior leaders—young men who were brought into the Army at 16. That had knock-on effects, certainly in infantry recruiting, and I was glad that it was reversed about 15 years ago.
Question
When the planned disposal of Vauxhall barracks in my constituency takes place, I and many of my constituents hope we might use some of the land for increased health services, because ours are bursting at the seams. Is there an update on the disposal date for the barracks, and will my right hon. Friend work with me and his colleagues at the Department of Health and Social Care to explore the possibility of putting a Didcot health hub on that site?
Minister reply
I am sorry to say to my hon. Friend that the disposal of Vauxhall barracks will now be delayed for a further six years, to 2034. It is a useful barracks for our forces and is in demand. If he would like, however, I am happy to meet him about a range of issues, including whether we can free up any other defence land to help him with that.
Shadow Comment
John Healey
Shadow Comment
In his response, John Healey criticised the statement for not providing clear answers on Army strategy and size in relation to the major threat posed by Russia. He questioned delays in delivering key equipment such as Ajax armoured vehicles and raised concerns about the reduction of established strength despite increased threats. He pointed out that since 2010, there have been significant cuts to infantry numbers and overall soldier count while MOD civilian staff has grown. The Labour MP also challenged the minister on real budget cuts for his department and questioned the effectiveness of reducing forces amid potential major crises. He demanded clarity on specific measures like recruitment rates, mix of wheeled and tracked vehicles in brigade combat teams, special forces recruitment, base closures, and the fate of tank training bases.
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