Armed Forces Readiness

Part of Defence – in the House of Commons at on 25 March 2024.

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Photo of James Heappey James Heappey Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Mr Speaker, thank you very much indeed for your words at the beginning of questions. I also thank the shadow Secretary of State, John Healey. You were both very kind indeed to say what you said.

The UK armed forces are meeting all of their commitments, but there is no mistaking that they are very busy, as one would expect at such a turbulent geopolitical time. People across the Army, Navy, Air Force and strategic command are working incredibly hard, and we are very grateful to them and their families for their forbearance while they do so. The Government are investing £1.95 billion extra in our resilience and readiness, but more than investment is needed, which is why all three services are getting back into the business of being ready for warfighting. The 3rd (United Kingdom) Division recently exercised its combat service support echelons for the first time in decades; the Royal Navy is operating concurrent task groups as well as forward presence, a test of our naval logistics; and the Royal Air Force is refining its abilities to disperse the force through its agile combat employment mechanism.