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Question follow-through · 16431

Armed Forces: Recruitment

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps are being taken to improve recruitment and retention in the UK armed forces.

answeredMinistry of Defence

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Tabled
7 Jul 2026
Target answer date
9 Jul 2026
Answer
14 Jul 2026 · 7 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

More questions by this MP on Defence and foreign affairs

Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.

Votes on this topic

These Commons divisions share a topic label. The question did not necessarily lead to a vote.

Recorded timeline

  1. 7 Jul 2026

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps are being taken to improve recruitment and retention in the UK armed forces.

  2. 9 Jul 2026

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 14 Jul 2026

    Answer published

    Armed Forces Recruitment and Retention is a primary focus and priority. We are taking decisive steps to address intake and outflow, and as of 1 October 2025 Armed Forces intake was greater than outflow. This is the first time since 2021. Over this Parliam...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

Possible follow-up questions

Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Veterans: Employment

8 Jul 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps are being taken to support veterans transitioning into civilian employment.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

National Security

8 Jul 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has been made of the level of threat from hostile state actors to the UK.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Military Intelligence

8 Jul 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps are being taken to improve intelligence sharing between the armed forces and other security agencies.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Electronic Warfare

8 Jul 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the UK’s cyber defence capabilities.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Nuclear Weapons: Security

8 Jul 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps are being taken to maintain the security of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Peacekeeping Operations

8 Jul 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the UK’s involvement in international peacekeeping operations.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Armed Forces: Deployment

8 Jul 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of UK service personnel deployed overseas.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Joint Exercises

8 Jul 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of defence training exercises with allied nations.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Defence: Manufacturing Industries

8 Jul 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support is being provided to defence manufacturers to innovate and maintain global competitiveness.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Armed Forces: Innovation

8 Jul 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones in the armed forces.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Defence: Infrastructure

8 Jul 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment has been made of the level of resilience of military infrastructure to climate change and natural disasters.