§ Andy KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria he uses to decide the level of funds for(a) the Sea Cadets, (b) the Army Cadets and (c) the Air Training Corps; and if he will make it his policy that the Sea Cadets are funded on an equal basis to the Army Cadets and Air Training Corps. [85803]
§ Dr. MoonieI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 3 December 2002Official Report, columns 691–92W. The budget for the cadet organisations is reviewed in the same way as the rest of the Ministry of Defence. The budget is considered against the requirement to sustain a vigorous and vibrant youth organisation which sustains active membership for enrolled cadets. Risks to sustaining the cadet organisations are then considered alongside the other risks to the MOD's output targets. In the case of the Sea Cadet Corps, this process is based on the Corps's known annual requirements and any specific changing needs. Consideration is also given to the Sea Cadet Corps's other sources of income, on a year-by-year basis.