Written Question·Ministry of Defence·UIN 104228

Armed Forces: Northern Ireland

Tabled: 8 January 2026
Answered: 16 January 2026

Question

James Cartlidge

Conservative — South Suffolk

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Forces in the Urgent Question on 5 January 2026, what the evidential basis is that recruitment and retention to the armed forces has not been

Answer

Louise Sandher-Jones
UK Regular Armed Forces intake is now greater than outflow at the Tri-Service level and strength has remained stable. We are pleased to be reversing the trend of decline, with more people joining our Armed Forces than leaving for the first time in four ye...
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