(2) whether he plans further to reduce the budget of the army cadet programme;
(3) what his most recent assessment is of the likely effects on recruitment to the army cadet programme of reductions in its budget.
[holding answer 23 November 2009]: The funding disbursed to the army cadet programme in 2009 was £42.46 million. In-year savings have reduced this amount by £4 million.
Planning is under way across the Army for next and future financial years but it is too early to say what the outcome of this will be.
We are extremely grateful to the adult cadet instructors for their commitment and dedication. As a result of their leadership, the vast majority of cadet detachments are riding out the temporary difficulties caused by the reduction in the Army Cadet Force budget this year.