The Chief of the Air Force highlighted the difficulty in recruitment presented by the UK labour market which had 1.3 million vacancies at the start of 2023.160 The First Sea Lord described the Armed Forces as being “in a battle for national talent” which required the Armed Forces to be “as attractive a place as it possibly can be for young people to come to and commit to.”161 The most recent figures (from October 2023) show the current state of the UK Armed Forces: 154 Ministry of Defence, Agency and Agility: Incentivising people in a new era, A review of UK Armed Forces incentivisation by Rick Haythornthwaite, June 2023, p 2; 15 155 Oral evidence taken on 5 September 2023, HC (2022–23) 1804, Q16 156 This means that Capita is responsible for attracting candidates and the application process until the recruits arrive in basic training. 157 Oral evidence taken on 16 January 2024, HC (2023–24) 480, Q13; 17 158 Q39–42 159 Oral evidence taken before the Public Accounts Committee on 22 January 2024, HC (2023–24) 451, Q7; Q11 160 Q220 161 Q344 32 Ready for War? (cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:9)(cid:12)(cid:14) (cid:15)M(cid:6)(cid:2)B(cid:16)M(cid:17)X,(cid:18)X(cid:19)(cid:1)X(cid:20),(cid:6)(cid:21)(cid:2)WX(cid:15)(cid:2)(cid:6)(cid:22)7(cid:21)(cid:2)X!(cid:2)(cid:6)W,BB(cid:2)(cid:23) (cid:24)(cid:25)X(cid:26)X(cid:27)(cid:28)(cid:25)(cid:29)(cid:30)(cid:31) X"#"$ %X&(cid:31)(cid:28) (cid:31)(cid:24)’(cid:31)X(cid:29)(X)*++#X-$./X0(cid:31) X(cid:28)(cid:31)1(cid:25)2X’31(cid:28)(cid:31)X(cid:26)X(cid:27)(cid:28)(cid:25)(cid:29)(cid:30)(cid:31) X"#"" (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:13)X!,7BMWX(cid:3)B(cid:4)X(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:2)B(cid:4)W (cid:7)(cid:8)4(cid:8)(cid:11)4(cid:8)(cid:14) (cid:20)5(cid:23)(cid:23)6(cid:5)78(cid:2)X(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)7B(cid:2)(cid:4)X(cid:15)M(cid:6)(cid:2)B(cid:16)M(cid:17)X9:;<:=X>X:?(cid:20)@X(cid:3)B(cid:4)X(cid:20)5(cid:23)(cid:23)6(cid:5)78(cid:2)X(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:2) (cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)7B(cid:2)(cid:4)X(cid:15)M(cid: