Cadet Forces
Monday, 19 October 2026
Contributions
Chris Murray (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab)Labour
6. What steps he is taking to support cadet forces.
The Minister for Veterans and People (Mr Calvin Bailey)Labour
The Government remain committed to growing the cadet forces. On 5 October, I opened the first National Cadets Week, which celebrated the skills of our cadets and recognised the contribution of the volunteers who are central to providing the experience. We are strengthening links between defence and industry to expand our cadet opportunities to more young people.
I thank the Minister for that answer. Musselburgh Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets have been giving young people in Musselburgh a head start for more than 70 years, and celebrated the first ever National Cadets Week last month with an open day. I will be joining them on parade on Thursday to pay tribute to the huge contribution that they make to the honest toun. Will the Minister join me in thanking the cadets and volunteers in Musselburgh and across my constituency, and tell me what the UK Government are doing to support cadets?
I know how proud my hon. Friend is of his Sea Cadets and Royal Marine Cadets, the 297 Squadron Royal Air Force Cadets and the tam o’ shanter-wearing Lothian and Borders Army Cadet Force, who highlight how important our cadets are to strengthening our communities and preserving our national music and totems. I look forward to hearing how he enjoys himself at the 70th anniversary event. I hope that the SNP can see fit to allow the expansion of cadet forces into our schools, which they resist at present.
David Chadwick (Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe) (LD)Liberal Democrat
Young people are the future of the armed forces, and that is why cadet groups are so important. In England, schools receive £360 a year for every child from an armed forces family, helping them to provide extra support. If Wales followed the English system, over £800,000 a year could go directly to Welsh schools and service children, including £97,000 for schools in my county of Powys. The reality is in Wales schools are competing with each other for a share of just £40,000 across the whole country. Does the Secretary of State agree that the Welsh Government must stop short-changing the children of armed forces personnel and put this money directly into their schools?
I welcome the question. Wales has a proud history of serving our country, and that results in an extension of the armed forces covenant in our schools. There is something there that we need to recognise in supporting our veterans and their children in schools in the Welsh system, so I will take a look at it.
Mr SpeakerSpeaker
I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.
James MacCleary (Lewes) (LD)Liberal Democrat
The Liberal Democrats have proposed expanding our cadet and reserve forces to include a voluntary civilian resilience strand, equipping British people with skills in cyber-defence, emergency response and protecting critical national infrastructure. Last week, the director general of MI5 warned of escalating Russian hybrid warfare and the need to strengthen our national resilience. The Defence Secretary will be aware that Britain once had a civil defence corps, with tens of thousands of volunteers during the cold war. Will he back our proposals to establish a new civilian volunteer reserve co-ordinated by a new, dedicated civil defence office, harnessing the enthusiasm of Britain’s young people who want to serve their communities and strengthen our national resilience?
That was shoehorned—I call the Minister.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, if the hon. Gentleman spent some time with our Royal Air Force cadets, he would see the amazing cyber-programme that they are rolling out, which will be expanded across the Army Cadets and the Sea and Royal Marine Cadets as part of the cadets action plan.
Source: UK Parliament Hansard API. Debate ID: 5419473.