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Written question asked by Alex Easton (Independent (affiliation)) on Monday, 7 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. It was answered by Louise Sandher-Jones (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 September 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Falkland Islands: Armed Forces

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of strength and readiness of UK military forces stationed in and around the Falkland Islands; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure sufficient recruitment, retention and personnel levels to maintain the long-term defence of the Islands.

Answer

The UK Government is steadfast in its support for the Falkland Islanders’ right of self-determination.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to maintaining a defensive military presence in the South Atlantic to ensure the protection of the Falkland Islands. Our defences in the South Atlantic are robust, consisting of air, land, and maritime forces with a strong permanent presence on the Falkland Islands. I am confident that our military presence is at the appropriate level for the defence of the Islands, and we keep this under constant review.

The Government is focused upon improving Armed Forces recruitment, modernising and refining our policies and processes to attract the best possible talent across all roles and missions within the Armed Forces. Defence is already delivering a range of new and more flexible routes into service designed to widen participation, attract specialist talent and improve access to military careers.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
27789
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Armed forces Defence Falkland Islands Recruitment Labour turnover
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk