PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(24 June 2025)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 2025 June to Question 57929 on Armed Force: Recruitment, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the accelerated recruitment process maintains rigorous standards in (a) training and (b) suitability assessments.

Asked by:
Sarah Bool (Conservative)

The current Government inherited a crisis in recruitment and retention from the last administration. We have made a series of announcements to improve Armed Forces recruitment and retention.

We are committed to maintaining the high standards of recruitment needed to build and maintain battle winning Armed Forces while still accelerating the recruitment process. The Services are improving training to recruitment personnel to maintain rigorous standards and ensure recruits become operationally effective quickly. Additionally, they are improving the digital exchange of medical information with civilian GPs. While specific numerical targets and timelines have not yet been formally published, we have initiated a series of reforms aimed at addressing challenges in these areas.

In addition, from 2027 the new Armed Forces Recruiting Service will provide a streamlined, single-entry point for prospective recruits, with the aim of recruiting from the broadest spectrum of society to attract the best talent into the Armed Forces. It will replace individual Service schemes and will modernise and improve how people join the Armed Forces. It will be a key enabler in building the future force, ensuring that the British Armed Forces remain equipped with skilled, motivated, and capable personnel ready to meet evolving global challenges.

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