Armed Forces Bill — Amendment Paper: Notices of Amendments as at 15 April 2026

Select Committee StageWednesday 15 April 2026
Armed Forces Bill
(Amendment Paper)
This document lists all amendments tabled to the Armed Forces Bill. Any withdrawn amendments are
listed at the end of the document. The amendments are arranged in the order in which it is expected
they will be decided.
 Amendments which will comply with the required notice period at their next appearance.
_7 Mike Martin
Ian Roome
. Clause 31, page 51, line 2, at end insert—
“(5) The Secretary of State must, in respect of each financial year, publish a report
assessing the impact of the provisions under subsections (3) and (4) on the
retention of personnel within His Majesty’s forces.
(6) The report under subsection (5) must include data on the number of personnel
who have transferred between the regular and reserve forces, broken down
by service and rank.
(7) The first such report must be laid before each House of Parliament within a
period of 12 months after the day on which this Act is passed.
(8) Each subsequent report must be laid before each House of Parliament no later
than 12 months after the publication of the last report under this section.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would require the Government to publish an annual report on the impact of
provisions related to transfers between regular and reserve forces on retention in the armed forces.
_1 Ian Roome
Mike Martin

. Clause 33, page 51, line 31, at end insert—
“(2B) This section does not apply to any person who was discharged from the regular
services or the reserve forces for a medical reason relating to physical or mental
health.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment makes former service personnel who have been discharged from the armed forces
for a medical reason relating to physical or mental health exempt from being recalled to permanent
service.
_20 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
. Clause 33, page 52, line 1, leave out “65” and insert “67”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment increases the maximum age for service in the Reserve Forces from 65 to 67.
_21 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
. Clause 33, page 52, line 10, leave out “65” and insert “67”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment is consequential on Amendment 20.
_22 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
. Clause 33, page 54, line 6, leave out “12” and insert “18”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would extend the duration of a recall order from 12 months to 18 months.
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_23 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
. Clause 33, page 54, line 43, at end insert—
“69C Prevention of recall for persons in reserved occupations
(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations to define certain categories of
civilian work as reserved occupations.
(2) A “reserved occupation” under subsection (1) is any category of civilian work
which the Secretary of State deems as vital for defence purposes.
(3) Persons undertaking a reserved occupation may be exempted from a recall
order under section 69A for which they would have otherwise been liable.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would allow persons undertaking civilian work which the Secretary of State deems
vital for defence purposes to be exempt from a recall order under section 69A.
_24 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
Sarah Bool
. Clause 33, page 54, line 43, at end insert—
“69C Notice periods for recall
(1) Those reservists in Army Reserve Group A, or its equivalents, shall, following
the coming into force of the Armed Forces Act 2026, have their standard notice
reduced from readiness category R9 (180 days) to R8 (90 days)
(2) For the purposes of this section, “Army Reserve Group A” has the meaning
defined in the Reserve Land Forces Regulations 2026.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would increase the readiness requirement for reservists in Army Reserve Group A
from 180 days to 90 days.
_25 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
Sarah Bool
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. Clause 37, page 56, line 35, at end insert—
(4) The Secretary of State must create a plan for ensuring and monitoring the
efficiency of the RFCA in carrying out its duties and its relationship with local
Reserve and Cadet units.
(5) The plan in subsection (4) must be laid before each House of Parliament within
six months of the passage of this Act.
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment requires the Secretary of State to create a plan ensuring and monitoring the
efficiency of the RFCA in carrying out its duties and its relationship with local Reserve and Cadet
units.
_NC1 Ian Roome
Mike Martin
. To move the following Clause—
“Single living accommodation standards
(1) The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is amended as follows.
(2) In section 101 (The standard of MOD accommodation), after “service family
accommodation”, in each place it occurs, insert “and single living
accommodation”.
(3) In subsection (10), at the appropriate place insert—
““single living accommodation” means any building or part of a building
which is provided for the use of a person subject to service law or a
civilian subject to service discipline as living accommodation, but which
is not service family accommodation;”.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause amends the Renters' Rights Act 2025 to ensure defence housing standards apply to
single living accommodation.
_NC2 Mike Martin
Ian Roome
. To move the following Clause—
“Veterans’ Mental Health Oversight Officer
(1) The Armed Forces Act 2006 is amended as follows.
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(2) After section 343C (Establishment and functions of veterans advisory and
pensions committees) insert—
“343CA Establishment and functions of a Veterans’ Mental Health Oversight
Officer
(1) The Secretary of State must appoint a person to be the Veterans’ Mental
Health Oversight Officer.
(2) The general function of the Officer is to oversee the mental health care
and treatment provided to veterans by the health bodies specified in
section 343AZB.
(3) In exercising their function, the Officer must, in particular, monitor and
assess the extent to which health bodies are complying with the duty
imposed by section 343AZA (Duty to have due regard to the covenant)
in relation to the mental health and well-being of veterans.
(4) The Officer may require a health body to provide such information as
the Officer considers reasonably necessary to discharge their functions
under this section.
(5) The Officer must prepare an annual report on the exercise of their
functions and the general state of veterans’ mental health care and
treatment in the United Kingdom.
(6) The Secretary of State must lay a copy of the Officer’s annual report
before each House of Parliament.
(7) In this section, “veteran” means a person who has at any time been a
service member.””
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause establishes the statutory role of a Veterans' Mental Health Oversight Officer.
_NC3 Mike Martin
Ian Roome
. To move the following Clause—
“Duty to provide medical records on discharge
(1) This section applies where a person ceases to be a member of the regular forces
or the reserve forces.
(2) The Secretary of State must by regulations make provision for a complete copy
of the person’s service medical records is provided to the person no later than
one month after the day on which the person is discharged or otherwise ceases
to be a member of those forces.
(3) Those regulations may specify the manner and form in which service medical
records are to be provided under this section, including provision for records
to be transferred directly to a civilian health body with the person's consent.
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(4) In this section—
“health body” has the same meaning as in section 343AZB;
“service medical records” means any records relating to the person’s
physical or mental health care and treatment created or maintained by
or on behalf of His Majesty's forces during the person's period of
service.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause places a statutory duty on the Secretary of State to ensure that all service personnel
leaving the military receive a complete copy of their medical records within one month of their
discharge date.
_NC4 Mike Martin
Ian Roome
. To move the following Clause—
“Independent review of Armed Forces recruitment and retention
(1) The Secretary of State must commission an independent review of the processes
for recruitment and retention across His Majesty’s forces.
(2) The review under subsection (1) must, in particular, consider—
(a) the efficiency and consistency of recruitment processes across the Royal
Navy, the regular army, the Royal Air Force and the reserve forces,
(b) the effectiveness of steps being taken to improve diversity and inclusion
within His Majesty’s forces,
(c) the impact of the quality of defence housing (including single living
accommodation) on the retention of service personnel, and
(d) the impact of the medical discharge process on retention and transition
to civilian life.
(3) A report of the review must be laid before each House of Parliament no later
than 12 months after the day on which this Act is passed.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause requires the Government to commission an independent review into recruitment
and retention in the armed forces and lay the report of the review before Parliament.
_NC5 Mike Martin
Ian Roome
. To move the following Clause—
“An armed forces retention strategy
(1) This section applies where the Secretary of State lays before Parliament the
Ministry of Defence Votes A paper seeking Parliamentary authority for the
SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Wednesday 15 April 2026 6

maximum numbers of personnel to be maintained for service with the armed
forces in the following financial year.
(2) The Secretary of State must lay alongside the Votes A paper an armed forces
retention strategy.
(3) The retention strategy must include—
(a) an assessment of the current rates of retention across the regular and
reserve forces,
(b) an explanation of the steps the Ministry of Defence is taking to improve
retention to meet the maximum numbers of personnel set out in the
Votes A paper, and
(c) an assessment of the findings of the most recent Armed Forces
Continuous Attitudes Survey and its findings regarding satisfaction with
service life.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would require the Government to lay an armed forces retention strategy alongside
the annual Votes A paper on the maximum number of personnel to be maintained in the armed
forces.
_NC6 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
. To move the following Clause—
“National Veterans’ Commissioner (England)
After section 366 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 insert—
“366A National Veterans' Commissioner (England): establishment
(1) Within 12 months of the passing of the Armed Forces Act 2026, the
Secretary of State must appoint a National Veterans’ Commissioner for
England (“the Commissioner”).
(2) The Commissioner shall act independently in carrying out the functions
of the office.
(3) The Commissioner shall, amongst others, perform the following
functions—
(a) promote the interests of veterans in England;
(b) monitor the operation and effectiveness of the Armed Forces
Covenant in England;
(c) review the effect of public policy and public services on veterans
and their families;
(d) identify barriers faced by veterans in accessing housing,
healthcare, employment, education, and other public services;
7 SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Wednesday 15 April 2026

(e) make recommendations to the Secretary of State and to public
authorities on improving support for veterans.
(4) In exercising these functions the Commissioner may—
(a) carry out reviews and investigations into matters affecting
veterans;
(b) consult veterans, service charities, public authorities, and other
relevant organisations;
(c) publish reports and recommendations.
(5) The Commissioner shall prepare an annual report on the exercise of the
Commissioner’s functions.
(6) The Commissioner may at any time prepare a report on any matter
relating to the interests of veterans in England.
(7) The Secretary of State shall lay any report prepared under this section
before both Houses of Parliament.
(8) The Secretary of State must make arrangements for—
(a) the provision of such staff, accommodation, and other resources
as they consider necessary for the Commissioner to carry out
their functions;
(b) the publication of the Commissioner’s reports.
(9) The Commissioner is to be appointed for a term of three years and may
be reappointed for a further term.
(10) The Secretary of State may remove the Commissioner from office only
on grounds of—
(a) incapacity,
(b) misbehaviour, or
(c) failure to discharge the functions of the office.
(11) In this section—
“public authority” has the same meaning as in section 6 of the
Human Rights Act 1998;
“veteran” means a person who has served in His Majesty’s armed
forces.””
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would require the Government to appoint a National Veteran’s Commissioner for
England and sets out its functions.
_NC7 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
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. To move the following Clause—
“Feasibility study on a Forces Housing Association
(1) Within 12 months of the passing of this Act, the Secretary of State shall publish
a detailed feasibility study into the possibility of establishing a Forces Housing
Association (FHA).
(2) The Study must examine the proposals in Chapter 5 of the 2020 Report “Stick
or Twist – A Report for The Prime Minister into Retention in HM Armed Forces
– and how to improve it”.
(3) The Secretary of State must lay a copy of the study before each House of
Parliament.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would require the Secretary of State to conduct a feasibility study into the merits
of establishing a Forces Housing Association (FHA) as opposed to the proposed Defence Housing
Service.
_NC8 Mr Mark Francois
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
David Reed
Sarah Bool
. To move the following Clause—
“HM Forces and Veterans Railcards
(1) The Secretary of State must, by regulations, provide for the continued provision
of—
(a) the HM Forces Railcard, and
(b) the Veterans Railcard.
(2) The railcard schemes under subsection (1) must provide eligible persons with
discounted travel on the national rail network.
(3) The regulations must specify that such railcard schemes—
(a) operate on a national basis;
(b) are subject to published eligibility criteria;
(c) are maintained in a manner consistent with other national rail
concessionary schemes.
(4) The regulations may make provision for the detailed operation of the railcard
schemes.
(5) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be
made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by
a resolution of each House of Parliament.”
9 SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Wednesday 15 April 2026

Member's explanatory statement
This new clause places a duty on the Secretary of State to secure the continuation of rail fare
concessions for members of the armed forces and veterans, giving such schemes a clear statutory
basis and aligning them with other national rail concessionary arrangements.
_NC9 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
Sarah Bool
. To move the following Clause—
“Authorisation of drone use for defence purposes
After Part 16D of AFA 2006 (inserted by section 4 of this Act) insert—
“PART 16E
DEFENCE DRONES
343R Authorisations of drone use for defence purposes
(1) An authorised person may authorise the use of unmanned aircraft
systems for the purpose of defence—
(a) testing,
(b) evaluation,
(c) training, and
(d) capability development.
(2) For the purposes of this section, an “authorised person” means—
(a) a member of the Armed Forces who has been deemed authorised
by the Secretary of State, or
(b) a civilian employee of the Ministry of Defence who has been
deemed authorised by the Secretary of State.
(3) An authorisation under subsection (1) must—
(a) be in writing, except in urgent cases in which it may be given
verbally and later confirmed in writing as soon as reasonably
practicable, and
(b) not have effect for a period exceeding six months.
(4) An authorised person must have regard to the principles of necessity
and proportionality when granting an authorisation under subsection
(1).””
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause enables an authorised person to approve the use of drones for routine testing,
evaluation and training.
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_NC10 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
Sarah Bool
. To move the following Clause—
“Designation of defensive drone offshore areas
(1) After Part 16D of AFA 2006 (inserted by section 4 of this Act) insert—
“PART 16D
DEFENCE DRONES
343R Designation of defence drone offshore areas
(1) An authorised person may designate an area of sea and associated
airspace as a defence drone offshore area for the purposes of authorised
unmanned aircraft operations.
(2) For the purposes of this section, an “authorised person” means—
(a) a member of the Armed Forces who has been deemed authorised
by the Secretary of State, or
(b) a civilian employee of the Ministry of Defence who has been
deemed authorised by the Secretary of State.
(3) Before making an authorisation under subsection (1), the authorised
person must consult—
(a) the Civil Aviation Authority,
(b) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and
(c) Any other maritime authorities as the authorised person
considers appropriate.
(4) An authorised person may impose conditions regarding the operation
of unmanned aircraft systems within a designated area.””
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause allows authorised personnel to designate offshore areas for drone operations.
_NC11 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
Sarah Bool
. To move the following Clause—
“Review of Regulatory Framework for Uncrewed Systems
(1) Within 12 months of the passage of this Act and once every 12 months
thereafter, the Secretary of State must conduct a review of the regulatory
11 SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Wednesday 15 April 2026

framework governing the testing and operation of uncrewed systems in the
maritime and land domains.
(2) A review under subsection (1) must consider—
(a) the framework’s impact on the development, testing and deployment
of uncrewed systems by small and medium-sized defence suppliers;
(b) the existence of any regulatory barriers to timely testing or operational
deployment of uncrewed systems for defence purposes;
(c) developments in the regulatory frameworks of the United Kingdom’s
military alliances;
(d) the framework’s impact on the competitiveness of the United Kingdom’s
defence industry.
(3) A review under subsection (1) must be published as a report and laid before
Parliament.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause requires the Secretary of State to annually publish and lay before Parliament a review
of the regulatory framework for uncrewed systems.
_NC12 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
Sarah Bool
. To move the following Clause—
“Protective Orders: Persons No Longer Subject to Service Law
(1) This section applies where a person—
(a) is charged with, or has been convicted of, an offence within the service
justice system, and
(b) was subject to service law either at the time of the alleged conduct or
at the time of the charging decision, whether or not they remain subject
to service law at the time of trial or sentencing.
(2) A service court may make any of the following orders in respect of a person
as if they were still subject to service law—
(a) a sexual harm prevention order or interim sexual harm prevention order
(see sections 103A to 103K of the Sexual Offences Act 2003);
(b) a sexual risk order or interim sexual risk order (see sections 122A to
122K of that Act);
(c) a service domestic abuse protection order;
(d) a service stalking protection order;
(e) a service restraining order (see section 229 of the Armed Forces Act
2006).
(3) An order made under subsection (2)—
(a) has effect as if made by a civilian court of equivalent jurisdiction, and
SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Wednesday 15 April 2026 12

(b) is enforceable accordingly.
(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for the recognition,
enforcement and variation of orders made under this section, including
provision about which court has jurisdiction to vary or discharge such an order
after it is made.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause ensures service courts can impose protective orders on individuals who leave service
before trial, preventing avoidance of such orders simply by leaving service.
_NC13 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
Sarah Bool
. To move the following Clause—
“Overseas operations and the European Convention on Human Rights
After section 14 of the Human Rights Act 1998 insert—
“14A Duty to consider derogation in relation to overseas operations
(1) Where the Secretary of State considers that any overseas operation is,
or is likely to be, significant, the Secretary of State must consider
whether it is appropriate for the United Kingdom to make a derogation
under Article 15(1) of the Convention.
(2) In this section—
“overseas operations” means operations of Her Majesty’s forces
outside the British Islands in the course of which members of
those forces may come under attack or face the threat of attack
or violent resistance;
“Her Majesty’s forces” has the same meaning as in the Armed
Forces Act 2006 (see section 374 of that Act).””
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause reinstates a duty, removed during passage of the Overseas Operations Act 2021,
requiring the Secretary of State to consider derogation from the European Convention on Human
Rights during significant overseas operations.
_NC14 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
Sarah Bool
13 SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Wednesday 15 April 2026

. To move the following Clause—
“Designation of Maritime Uncrewed Systems as Warships
(1) The Secretary of State may designate an uncrewed maritime system as a warship
where the Secretary of State considers it appropriate.
(2) A designation under subsection (1) may be made only where the system—
(a) is operated by or on behalf of the armed forces, and
(b) is used, or intended to be used, for defensive purposes.
(3) An uncrewed maritime system designated under this section is to be treated
as a warship for the purposes of domestic law.
(4) In this section, “uncrewed maritime system” means any vessel or platform
capable of operating at sea without a person on board.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause enables the Secretary of State to designate uncrewed maritime systems as warships
for domestic law purposes.
_NC15 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
. To move the following Clause—
“Exemption from the European Convention on Human Rights for deployed
members of the reserve forces
A member of the reserve forces who has been deployed for operations under
this Act may not be subject to the provisions of the European Convention on
Human Rights for the duration of that deployment.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would make provision for the members of the reserve forces who have been deployed
under this Act to be exempt from the ECHR for that period of deployment.
_NC16 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
Sarah Bool
. To move the following Clause—
“Laying of the Defence Investment Plan
Within one month of the passage of this Act, the Secretary of State must lay
a Defence Investment Plan before both Houses of Parliament.”
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Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would require the Secretary of State to lay a Defence Investment Plan before both
Houses of Parliament within a month of the passage of this Act.
_NC17 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
Sarah Bool
. To move the following Clause—
“Defence Readiness Plan
(1) Within one month of the passage of this Act, and every 12 months thereafter,
the Secretary of State must lay a Defence Readiness Plan before both Houses
of Parliament.
(2) The Defence Readiness Plan shall include, but shall not be limited to, a
statement of the number of personnel in, and readiness of, each of the Reserve
Forces governed by the Reserve Forces Act 1996.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause requires the Government to publish a Defence Readiness Plan which must include
information about the numbers and readiness of reserve forces.
Order of the House
[26 January 2026]
That the following provisions shall apply to the Armed Forces Bill:
Select Committee
1. The Bill shall be committed to a Select Committee.
2. The Select Committee shall report the Bill to the House on or before 30 April 2026.
Committee of the whole House, Consideration and Third reading
3. On report from the Select Committee, the Bill shall be re-committed to a Committee
of the whole House.
4. Proceedings in Committee of the whole House on recommittal, any proceedings
on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken in accordance
with the following provisions of this Order.
5. Proceedings in Committee of the whole House and any proceedings on
Consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion
15 SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Wednesday 15 April 2026

one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which proceedings in
Committee of the whole House are commenced.
6. Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought
to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.
Programming committee
7. Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings
in Committee of the whole House, to any proceedings on Consideration or to
proceedings on Third Reading.
Other proceedings
8. Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.
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