There is confusion about how an expansion of the reserves and the cadets will be funded (Image: PA)
Britain lacks a clear plan to boost the numbers of military reserves and cadets as the country scrambles to strengthen its defences, a major report from a powerful cross-party group of MPs has warned.
The Strategic Defence Review set the goal of increasing the number of active reserves by 20% “when funding allows”. The Government has a long-term ambition to boost cadet numbers from 140,000 to 250,000 but there is a “shortage of adult volunteers”, according to the public accounts committee.
The MPs warned Sir Keir Starmer’s Government lacks a “realistic and appropriately funded plan to achieve its ambition of expanding the reserve forces and the cadets”. They say the targets “face significant barriers and suffer from a lack of clarity”.
Britain will need a “fit-for-purpose volunteer estate of training sites and cadet huts” but sites have been in a “state of managed decline” – and around 2,500 “are not in the right places”.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who chairs the committee, warned of a “lack of clarity” around “highly ambitious plans to expand our reserve and cadet forces”.
He said the “massive” goal of expanding the reserves by a fifth will depend on the Ministry of Defence finding the necessary cash before the next election.
Sir Geoffrey added: “Similarly, the planned boost of the cadet forces by a third by 2030 will stumble if the lack of adult volunteers is not addressed. This is before one begins to grapple with the considerable challenge of persuading young people to join up in the numbers required.”
He warned that “as we have frequently found in scrutiny of this government, what is missing is a plan for how these aims will be achieved”.
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said: “The PAC’s findings show the MoD has no credible plan to deliver its own ambitions for our reserves and cadets. Ministers must act now – fix the shortage of adult volunteers, modernise facilities, and ensure taxpayers’ money is transparently managed.
“Our reserves and cadets are too important to be left in limbo for years to come, and only the Conservatives will ensure the future of our armed forces is protected.”
The cadets are considered a vital link between the military and wider society (Image: Birmingham Mail)
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “As we reform defence, we are putting people at the heart of our defence plans – taking a whole of society approach to our national resilience. The Strategic Defence Review set out how we will make Britain safer, including a commitment to bolster our Reserve forces by at least 20%.
“The new Defence Investment Plan will detail the delivery of our plans for expanding our reserve and cadet forces by the end of the year.”
