Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Armed Forces Recruitment

Monday 24 March 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister states inherited recruitment system was broken from Conservatives
  • Minister announces largest pay increase in 20 years for those who serve
  • Honourable member notes unsustainable high rate of troops leaving forces

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jim Dickson Lab Dartford
Defence
Context

The Labour MP is concerned about the need to expand armed forces recruitment, especially in his constituency with a proud military history.

Question

What steps he is taking to increase recruitment to the armed forces. Given the need to expand our armed forces, how can we help a new generation of young people in Dartford to access highly skilled and rewarding careers across all the armed forces?

Answer from The Minister for the Armed Forces (Luke Pollard)

We inherited a broken recruitment system from the Conservatives. We promised to take steps to fix it and we are: the largest pay increase in 20 years for those who serve; a 35% pay increase for recruits; the scrapping of over 100 outdated medical practices; the creation of a new direct entry cyber-pathway; a conditional offer within 10 days of applying; a training start date within 30 days; and the announcement of a new tri-service recruitment scheme to attract the very best to our armed forces. Not only is a career in our armed forces good for a young person; it also offers training opportunities, with each of our single services appearing in the top five apprentice employers—the very best in our country. A career in the defence industry is also good for our young people.

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Q2 Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Con North Cotswolds
Policing & Resources Defence
Context

The Conservative MP highlights the unsustainable rate of servicemen leaving the armed forces compared to those recruited.

Question

In recent years, for every 100 servicemen recruited, 130 have left. That is completely unsustainable. What is the Minister doing to ensure that we retain more troops, with not only the package within our armed forces, but competitive packages in the private sector?

Answer from The Minister for the Armed Forces (Luke Pollard)

The hon. Gentleman is entirely right about the terrible state of armed forces retention that we inherited. We have seen armed forces morale drop from 60% in 2010 to just 40% last July. We need to invest more in our armed forces, which is why we have introduced the biggest pay rise in 20 years and why we are bringing defence housing back under public control, so that it can be invested in. It is also why we are creating the Armed Forces Commissioner, who will provide an independent champion for service welfare matters for those who serve.

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