§ Andy KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department has made of the implications of funding the sea cadets on the same basis as the army cadets and air training corps; [83774]
(2) on what basis his Department funds (a) the sea cadets, (b) the army cadets and (c) the air training corps; and if he will fund the sea cadets on an equal basis to the army and air training corps. [83775]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Army Cadets and the Air Training Corps are voluntary youth organisations sponsored by the MOD and are funded appropriate to the way they are organised. The Sea Cadet Corps is an independent youth organisation which is neither owned nor managed by the Ministry of Defence. However, it is jointly sponsored by the MOD and Sea Cadet Association (SCA). The Ministry of Defence supports the Sea Cadets in the form of financial assistance, material and limited manpower resources.
The Ministry of Defence has made no formal assessment of the implications of funding the Sea Cadets on the same basis as the Army Cadets and the Air Training Corps, and has no plans to do so.