Mark Lancaster (Shadow Minister, International Development; North East Milton Keynes, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account his Department took of the Prime Minister's request for expansion of the Cadet Force when determining changes to its level of funding.

Bill Rammell (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Harlow, Labour)

holding answer 28 October 2009

The Department has taken full account of the Prime Minister's request for expansion of cadets for state schools and state school pupils, when taking very hard decisions about funding. Our commitment to the Prime Minister's direction remains undiminished, as evidenced by our recent response to the Milburn Report, where we have accepted in principle the recommendation to ensure that those state school pupils who wish to get involved in cadets may do so. It is recognised, however, that in the present challenging financial situation we cannot fully meet it immediately. The MOD is investigating the possibility of third party funding to support the set-up and running of cadet units including further opportunities for joint working with the Department of Children Schools and Families.