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Oct 2023
Call to close Harrogate's army college after Parliament reveals cost
A campaign group has called for the closure of Harrogate's Army Foundation College after Parliament revealed how much it costs to run.
A question by Labour shadow justice minister Alex Cunningham discovered the annual running cost of the college, which provides basic training for 16 and 17-year-old junior recruits, is £85.5 million.
A separate question by SNP defence spokesperson Martin Docherty revealed it costs £133,000 for each trainee that completes the college's 49-week junior entry course.
The questions were asked by the MPs on behalf of the campaign group Child Rights International Network.
Jim Wyke, coordinator for national security policy at CRIN, said the figures confirmed its suspicion that it costs more to train a 16-year-old at the college on Penny Pot Lane than it does to put an adult through the same process.
Mr Wyke said younger army recruits took longer to train (16 months vs. six months for the infantry) and were more likely to drop out (33% vs. 23%).
He also said the annual running cost of an average secondary school was £5 million, whereas the Harrogate army college costs £85.5m — 17 times more.
Mr Wyke said:
The college entrance on Penny Pot Lane.
A British Army spokesperson said:
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