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Army Reserve

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 3 July 2026UIN 13293

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2026, to question 8857 on Army Reserve: Finance, what is the baseline figure of personnel within the active reserve upon which the 20% increase will be measured.

Answered by Mr Calvin Bailey

The Strategic Defence Review committed to increasing the proportion of active reserves by 20%, when funding allows. This Government has since published the Defence Investment Plan, which includes £4.2 billion of investment in the Reserve Forces between Financial Year 2026-27 and 2029-30. The latest published Army Reserve strength was 25,733 personnel as at 1 April 2026, and this investment will support the delivery of the Strategic Defence Review's vision for a larger, more capable and more integrated Reserve.

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