To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department paid to Common Purpose in each of the last five years; for what purpose; and what the outcome of the expenditure was. (145342)

Sums paid to Common Purpose UK in each of the last complete five financial years, inclusive of VAT, are as follows:

These payments covered the cost of participation by MOD staff in Common Purpose UK’s training and education programmes. Programmes of this nature help to develop leadership skills, to gain understanding about broader aspects of government and to share experience with and learn from participants from both the private and public sectors.