21 Jul 2026
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Committee report
Ministry of Defence
linked
Armed Forces Bill
Summary
What this is
The Armed Forces Bill 2024-26 (Bill 367) is the quinquennial primary legislation required to continue the Armed Forces Act 2006 beyond its statutory expiry, while also reforming reserve forces recall, expanding the Armed Forces Covenant legal duty, putting a Defence Housing Service on a statutory footing, and modernising service discipline.
Why it matters
Without renewal the Armed Forces Act 2006 would expire on 14 December 2026 (currently extended to that date by the 2025 Continuation Order), removing the statutory basis for the existence and discipline of the Regular and Reserve Forces. The Bill is also the principal vehicle for the Government's June 2025 pledge to expand the Covenant Legal Duty to central government and for the new Defence Housing Service.
Current status
The Bill received first reading on 15 January 2026, second reading on 26 January 2026, was committed to an ad hoc Select Committee which reported on 28-29 April 2026, and is now expected to be re-committed to a Committee of the whole House under the 26 January 2026 Programme Order.
What changed recently
- 13 May 2026 — King's Speech 2026 confirms the Bill as a Government legislative priority alongside the National Security, Tackling State Threats and Cyber Security and Resilience Bills. →
- 29 Apr 2026 — Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill 2026 published its Special Report scrutinising the Bill, including the expanded Covenant Legal Duty. →
- 30 Apr 2026 — Select Committee Formal Minutes published, closing the Select Committee stage. →
- 22 Apr 2026 — Ministry of Defence Police (Vetting) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/428) made — operationalises MDP vetting framework alongside the Bill. →
- 16 Apr 2026 — Select Committee Amendment Paper published with substantive Opposition and Liberal Democrat amendments on reserve recall age (65→67), medical-discharge exemption, single living accommodation standards and a Veterans' Mental Health Oversight Officer. →
Key documents
Framework
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Armed Forces Bill 2024-26 (Bill 367, as introduced)
The Bill itself: continues the Armed Forces Act 2006, amends it on Covenant, Defence Housing, Reserve Forces and discipline, and makes provision for service complaints.
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Explanatory Notes (Bill 367 EN)
Departmental explanation of the Bill's provisions clause-by-clause.
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Delegated Powers Memorandum
MoD memorandum identifying delegated powers in the Bill — the document the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee will scrutinise.
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ECHR Memorandum
MoD's human rights memorandum on Convention compatibility — relevant given the Opposition NC13/NC15 amendments engaging Article 15 derogation and ECHR application to deployed reservists.
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King's Speech 2026: announcement of the Armed Forces Bill
King's Speech 2026 confirming the Government's intent to bring forward the Bill renewing the 2006 Act and placing the Covenant on a fuller statutory footing.
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MoD announcement: New Defence Housing Service (15 January 2026)
MoD news announcement at Bill introduction explaining that the Bill puts the new Defence Housing Service into law as part of the largest renewal of military housing in a generation.
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WMS (HCWS747): Pledge to protect Armed Forces community through new Covenant Legal Duty
Al Carns, then Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Veterans and People, set out the Government's pledge to expand the Covenant Legal Duty in the forthcoming Bill.
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MoD announcement: New powers for Defence personnel to defeat drones near bases (2 Feb 2026)
Government announcement framing the Bill's defence-drones provisions following a doubling of drone incidents near bases.
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MoD announcement: Major boost to skilled former military personnel called upon in crises (15 Jan 2026)
MoD announcement at introduction explaining the Bill's reserve recall reforms to expand the pool of former Service personnel available in crises.
Statutory basis
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Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025 (SI 2025/1096)
Continues the 2006 Act in force until 14 December 2026 pending enactment of the new Bill — the statutory clock the Bill must beat.
Operationalising
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Armed Forces Commissioner (Service Complaints Investigations) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/24)
Operationalises the new Armed Forces Commissioner's service complaints investigation power under AFCA 2025.
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Armed Forces Commissioner (Family Definition etc.) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/372)
Defines 'relevant family member' for AFCA 2025 purposes and makes transitional provision.
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Ministry of Defence Police (Vetting) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/428)
Requires every MDP officer to hold and maintain vetting clearance — complements service discipline reforms in the Bill.
Implementation
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Legislative Consent Motion agreed by the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament LCM on the Bill — necessary devolution-settlement step given service-justice and Covenant touch-points in devolved areas.
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WMS (HCWS1078): New Director of Service Prosecutions
Louise Sandher-Jones, then Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence, announced the appointment under s.364 of the 2006 Act — the senior service-justice office whose framework the Bill amends.
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JSP 831: Redress of individual grievances — service complaints
Departmental guidance on the service complaints system the Bill (with AFCA 2025) reforms.
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Armed Forces Covenant Duty Statutory Guidance
Statutory guidance to public bodies on the existing Covenant Duty — baseline that will be revised once the Bill expands the Duty.
Scrutiny
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Select Committee Amendment Paper, 16 April 2026
Final Select Committee amendment paper containing the Mike Martin/Ian Roome (Lib Dem) and Mark Francois (Con) amendment packages on retention reporting, reserve recall age, single living accommodation, medical records on discharge, and ECHR derogation.
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Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill 2026: Special Report
The ad-hoc Select Committee's Special Report on the Bill, with a primary focus on the extension of the Covenant Legal Duty.
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Formal Minutes of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill 2026
Procedural record of the Select Committee's votes and divisions on Bill amendments.
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Government Response to the Defence Committee's Covenant report (HC 1034)
MoD response accepting the recommendation to legislate for an expanded Covenant Legal Duty.
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Commons Library Briefing CBP-10471: Armed Forces Bill 2024-26
Library briefing on the Bill following Select Committee report — the primary neutral synthesis of the Bill's contents and amendment debate.
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Commons Library Briefing CBP-9072: The Armed Forces Covenant and its status in law
Library briefing tracing how the Covenant has moved from a non-statutory commitment to a statutory duty under the 2021 Act and now an expanded duty under the 2026 Bill.
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Letter from the Chair to the Minister for the Armed Forces (21 January 2026)
Pre-Second Reading correspondence from the Select Committee Chair to the Armed Forces Minister.
Evidence
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Armed Forces Bill 2026: impact assessments
Impact assessment package accompanying the Bill.
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Defence Committee 4th Report: The Armed Forces Covenant (HC 572)
Substantive evidence base feeding into the Bill's expanded Covenant Legal Duty, recommending extension to all Government departments and the devolved administrations.
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Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2025
14th statutory annual Covenant report — the live baseline against which the Bill's expansion of the Legal Duty will be judged.
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Service Justice System review (Lyons review)
MoD-commissioned review of the Service Justice System whose recommendations underpinned the 2021 Act's reforms and continue to inform the current Bill's discipline measures.
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Strategic Defence Review 2025 - Making Britain Safer
Root-and-branch defence review forming the strategic backdrop for the Bill's reserve-readiness and personnel-retention provisions.
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Memorandum from the Ministry of Defence on the Armed Forces Bill
MoD memorandum to the Select Committee setting out the Department's case on each clause.
Stakeholders
Sponsoring department 1
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Ministry of Defence
→ src
Lead committee 4
Witnesses & evidence-givers 2
Commentator 7
Political commitments
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commitment King's Speech announcement
Armed Forces Bill to renew the 2006 Act and place the Covenant on a fuller statutory footing
Why linked: The King's Speech 2026 confirmed the Bill as a Government legislative priority for the defence portfolio.
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commitment Ministerial statement
Pledge to expand the Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty
As we mark Armed Forces Week, we celebrate the brave personnel that keep us safe every day…
Why linked: HCWS747 set out the Government's June 2025 pledge to legislate for an expanded Covenant Legal Duty in the forthcoming Bill.
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commitment Ministerial statement
Statutory Defence Housing Service
New Defence Housing Service to be put into law, turbocharging biggest renewal of military housing in a generation.
Why linked: MoD announcement at Bill introduction explaining the statutory footing for the Defence Housing Service.
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commitment Ministerial statement
Stronger powers for Defence personnel to defeat drones near bases
The security of key military sites will be strengthened as Defence personnel will be given stronger powers to defeat drones near bases…
Why linked: MoD news announcement on the Bill's defence-drones provisions following a doubling of drone incidents near military sites.
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commitment Ministerial statement
Expanded pool of former Service personnel available in crises
The Armed Forces Bill will grow the pool of former Service personnel who Defence could draw on in times of crisis…
Why linked: MoD news announcement at Bill introduction on the reserve recall reforms.
Open questions & gaps
Pending in the lifecycle
- Re-committal of the Bill to a Committee of the whole House and any further proceedings on Consideration and Third Reading under the 26 January 2026 Programme Order.
- Lords stages — Second Reading, Committee, Report and Third Reading — none yet visible in the events list.
- Royal Assent before 14 December 2026, when the Armed Forces Act 2006 currently expires under SI 2025/1096.
- Revised Covenant statutory guidance to reflect the expanded Legal Duty once the Bill is enacted.
Beyond the corpus
- FOUND Pension Schemes Bill
- FOUND Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
- FOUND Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill — Select Committee report: 52nd Report of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory …
- MISSING Government Response to the Select Committee Special Report (HC 1712) —
Confidence gaps
- Precise clause-by-clause architecture of the Bill is not fully exposed in the events list; the Bill 367 text and Explanatory Notes are cited but their substantive content is summarised only via secondary documents.
- Whether any of the Lib Dem retention/housing or Conservative ECHR-derogation new clauses were accepted at Select Committee stage cannot be confirmed without reading the proceedings papers (28831).
Full timeline
2562026
4 events
6 Mar 2026
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Written question
Ministry of Defence
linked
direct
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any changes have been made to the job specifications for the Armed Forces Commissioner since 1 January 2026.
Why linked: Written Question on Armed Forces Commissioner job specifications (March 2026) - tracks covenant enforcement and accountability mechanisms during implementation
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any changes have been made to the job specifications for the Armed Forces Commissioner since 1 January 2026.
3 Mar 2026
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Written question
Ministry of Defence
linked
direct
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to introduce the Defence Readiness Bill before May 2026.
Why linked: PQ of 3 March 2026 on plans for a Defence Readiness Bill before May 2026 — overlaps with Mark Francois NC17 on a Defence Readiness Plan and with the SDR 2025 readiness agenda.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to introduce the Defence Readiness Bill before May 2026.
21 Jan 2026
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Committee report
NHS England
linked
direct
Letter from the Chair to the Minister for the Armed Forces dated 21 January regarding the Armed Forces Bill
Why linked: Letter from the Chair to the Minister for the Armed Forces dated 21 January 2026 — Defence Committee correspondence on the Bill.
Direction: to_committee
2025
15 events
19 Nov 2025
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Committee report
linked
direct
The Government should set out its timetable with key milestones for the defence readiness legislation in its response to this report, including its approach to pre-legislative scrutiny, and ensure that it has a strategy for engagement with Parliament and the UK public. Prior to the introduction of the legislation, we recommend that the Minister responsible for the Bill (the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry) implement a regular programme of statements in the House with updates on th...
Why linked: Defence Committee report excerpt (November 2025) on defence readiness legislation timetable and pre-legislative scrutiny - direct oversight of Bill implementation milestones
The Government should set out its timetable with key milestones for the defence readiness legislation in its response to this report, including its approach to pre-legislative scrutiny, and ensure that it has a strategy for engagement with Parliament and the …
5 Sep 2025
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Committee report
linked
direct
The Department confirmed that establishing an NDPB remained its preferred route forward. This would facilitate a streamlined organisation, simplify back-office functions and clarify accountabilities. The Department said that the next opportunity for the necessary legislation would be in the Armed Forces Bill, which it is obliged to update by the end of 2026.24
Why linked: PAC evidence on RFCA reform (NDPB route) — relevant to Clause 37 of the Bill on RFCA governance and the Lib Dem Am. 25 monitoring plan.
The Department confirmed that establishing an NDPB remained its preferred route forward. This would facilitate a streamlined organisation, simplify back-office functions and clarify accountabilities. The Department said that the next opportunity for the necessary legislation would be in the Armed …
5 Sep 2025
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Committee report
linked
direct
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Defence (the Department) and the Council of Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (the Council) on their oversight and support of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCAs).1
Why linked: Parliamentary evidence on Reserve Forces and Cadets (Sept 2025) – relates to armed forces personnel welfare and support structures relevant to Covenant scope
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Defence (the Department) and the Council of Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (the Council) on their oversight and support of the …
15 Apr 2025
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Written question
Ministry of Defence
linked
direct
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Written Ministerial Statement of 1 April 2025 on Defence Reform, HCWS 573, whether the reforms will be subject to Parliamentary approval.
Why linked: Written Question on Defence Reform and Parliamentary scrutiny (April 2025, HCWS 573 reference) - directly tracks Bill implementation and statutory duty framework
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Written Ministerial Statement of 1 April 2025 on Defence Reform, HCWS 573, whether the reforms will be subject to Parliamentary approval.
10 Apr 2025
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Written question
Ministry of Defence
linked
direct
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39045 on Armed Forces Covenant: Business, what the requirements are to pass the Covenant Test.
Why linked: Written question of 10 April 2025 on the Armed Forces Covenant: Business — PQ scrutiny directly within the Bill's Covenant scope.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39045 on Armed Forces Covenant: Business, what the requirements are to pass the Covenant Test.
10 Apr 2025
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Written question
Ministry of Defence
linked
direct
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39047 on Armed Forces Covenant, if he will provide a summary of the meeting of 19 March 2025.
Why linked: Written Question on Armed Forces Covenant meeting (April 2025) - tracks covenant implementation governance and stakeholder engagement
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39047 on Armed Forces Covenant, if he will provide a summary of the meeting of 19 March 2025.
8 Apr 2025
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Committee report
linked
direct
The Armed Forces Covenant is a solemn commitment by our whole society to recognise the courage and dedication of our Armed Forces. While progress has been made since the Covenant was introduced, it is still not consistently implemented and as a result our society is falling short of that commitment far too often. The upcoming Armed Forces Bill is an opportunity to renew and reinforce the nation’s promise to those who serve, but this is only part of the change that needs to occur. Understandin...
Why linked: Defence Committee HC 572 narrative paragraph on the Covenant as a 'solemn commitment' — quoting the substantive conclusion that underpins the Bill's Covenant expansion.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a solemn commitment by our whole society to recognise the courage and dedication of our Armed Forces. While progress has been made since the Covenant was introduced, it is still not consistently implemented and as …
8 Apr 2025
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Written evidence
linked
direct
Assuming precedent is followed, a Select Committee will be appointed to consider the Armed Forces Bill, with the opportunity to hear oral evidence before considering the Bill line by line. We recommend that the Government allow time for that Committee to hear from a broad range of organisations with an interest in the Armed Forces Covenant, as well as on other issues that may be within the scope of the Bill. (Recommendation, Paragraph 6) The Covenant today
Why linked: Defence Committee written evidence that a Select Committee should be appointed to consider the Bill.
Assuming precedent is followed, a Select Committee will be appointed to consider the Armed Forces Bill, with the opportunity to hear oral evidence before considering the Bill line by line. We recommend that the Government allow time for that Committee …
8 Apr 2025
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Committee report
linked
direct
The Government should extend the application of the Armed Forces Covenant so that all Government departments and the devolved administrations are required to give due regard to the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant. As the current duty of ‘due regard’ is inconsistently interpreted, the extended duty must be accompanied by clear guidance so that the duty is clearly understood and is not treated as a tick-box exercise. (Recommendation, Paragraph 29)
Why linked: Defence Committee recommendation to extend the Covenant to all Whitehall departments and devolved administrations.
The Government should extend the application of the Armed Forces Covenant so that all Government departments and the devolved administrations are required to give due regard to the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant. As the current duty of ‘due …
8 Apr 2025
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Committee report
linked
direct
Alongside its plans to legislate for an expanded Covenant Legal Duty, the Government should develop a strategy for making sure the Covenant is fully and consistently applied and recognised by signatories and by those subject to the Legal Duty across the UK, including in the Devolved Administrations. Actions as part of this strategy could include establishing clear and demanding standards and mechanisms for accountability, improving guidance to those delivering services, and facilitating knowl...
Why linked: Defence Committee recommendation that the Government develop a strategy for consistent Covenant application.
Alongside its plans to legislate for an expanded Covenant Legal Duty, the Government should develop a strategy for making sure the Covenant is fully and consistently applied and recognised by signatories and by those subject to the Legal Duty across …
8 Apr 2025
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Committee report
linked
direct
Implementation of the Covenant Legal Duty varies considerably across the UK. In some places the Legal Duty has resulted in the creation of new policies and initiatives that have tangibly improved the lives of the forces community; in others the Duty appears to have changed very little. As a result, people’s experiences of the Covenant are very different depending on where they live, which services or organisations they interact with and which individual member of staff in an organisation they...
Why linked: Defence Committee evidence on patchy implementation of the existing Covenant Legal Duty.
Implementation of the Covenant Legal Duty varies considerably across the UK. In some places the Legal Duty has resulted in the creation of new policies and initiatives that have tangibly improved the lives of the forces community; in others the …
8 Apr 2025
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Committee report
linked
direct
The evidence we received shows that where the Covenant is working well it is improving outcomes for service personnel, their families and veterans and is removing some of the disadvantages people face as a result of military service. However, this was not the experience of everyone who responded to our inquiry. We heard many examples where the Covenant was not working as designed, resulting in people who have served being financially disadvantaged, unable to access medical care, or unable to ...
Why linked: Defence Committee evidence text identifying where the Covenant is working well — feeds Clause 2 debate.
The evidence we received shows that where the Covenant is working well it is improving outcomes for service personnel, their families and veterans and is removing some of the disadvantages people face as a result of military service. However, this …
1 Apr 2025
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Written question
Department for Education
linked
direct
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty as it applies to schools; and whether they plan to update the school admissions code (1) to give priority to children of Service families, and (2) to pr
Why linked: Lords written question of 1 April 2025 on the Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty as it applies to schools — direct PQ scrutiny on the scope of the Duty being expanded by the Bill.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty as it applies to schools; and whether they plan to update the school admissions code (1) to give priority to children of Service …
3 Mar 2025
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Written question
Cabinet Office
linked
direct
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to prioritise businesses that have signed the Armed Forces Covenant when tendering public sector contracts.
Why linked: Written question of 3 March 2025 on prioritising Covenant signatories in procurement — links Covenant Duty to procurement scope.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to prioritise businesses that have signed the Armed Forces Covenant when tendering public sector contracts.
9 Jan 2025
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Committee report
NHS England
linked
direct
Letter dated 23rd December from Secretary of State to Chair regarding dispensation to Service Personnel to contribute to inquiry on the Armed Forces Covenant
Why linked: Letter of 23 December 2024 from the Secretary of State to the Chair on dispensation to Service Personnel to contribute to the Covenant inquiry — procedural precedent for how the Bill's evidence base was assembled.
Direction: unknown
2024
2 events
13 Dec 2024
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Written evidence
Defence Committee
linked
direct
The Armed Forces Covenant
Why linked: Defence Committee inquiry call: The Armed Forces Covenant (December 2024) — the inquiry that produced HC 572 and underpins Clause 2 of the Bill.
This inquiry will examine the Armed Forces Covenant, the UK’s commitment to ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community are supported and treated fairly. The inquiry will explore whether the Covenant is working, examine areas where serving or former …
20 Mar 2024
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Written question
Ministry of Defence
linked
direct
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of service personnel from the (a) British Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force will participate in joint exercises in (i) 2024, (ii) 2025 and (iii) 2026.
Why linked: Written question on service personnel participation in judicial processes — directly relevant to service justice framework reform scope
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of service personnel from the (a) British Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force will participate in joint exercises in (i) 2024, (ii) 2025 and …
2022
1 event
8 Dec 2022
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Written question
Ministry of Defence
linked
direct
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Retained EU Law Bill, what plans he has to (a) revoke (b) replace and (c) retain the Criminal Justice (Armed Forces Code of Practice for Victims of Crime) Regulations 2015.
Why linked: Written question on Criminal Justice (Armed Forces) provisions and Retained EU Law Bill - directly relevant to service justice framework reform, a key pillar of the Armed Forces Bill
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Retained EU Law Bill, what plans he has to (a) revoke (b) replace and (c) retain the Criminal Justice (Armed Forces Code of Practice for Victims of Crime) …
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Analyst briefing
Executive summary
The Armed Forces Bill 2024-26 (Bill 367) is the quinquennial renewing measure for the Armed Forces Act 2006 and the principal Labour Government vehicle for expanding the Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty, creating a statutory Defence Housing Service and modernising reserve recall 12. It must reach Royal Assent before 14 December 2026, when the 2006 Act's continuation under the Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025 (SI 2025/1096) expires 3. First Reading was on 15 January 2026 and Second Reading on 26 January 45. The Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill 2026, chaired by Clive Efford, published its Special Report (HC 1712) on 28 April 2026 and Formal Minutes on 30 April 67. The King's Speech 2026 reconfirmed the Bill as a Government legislative priority 8. Re-committal to a Committee of the whole House, Consideration and Third Reading remain to be taken in a single sitting day under the 26 January 2026 Programme Order 9.
Current state
The Bill sits between Select Committee and re-committal. The Select Committee took oral evidence across six sittings in March-April 2026 and a seventh sitting on 16 April 1, working from successive amendment papers culminating in the 16 April 2026 paper 2. Its Special Report (HC 1712) is the lead scrutiny document and is grounded in the Defence Committee's earlier HC 572 report on the Covenant 34. The supporting MoD package — Bill text 5, Explanatory Notes 6, Delegated Powers Memorandum 7, ECHR Memorandum 8, impact assessments 9 and the Departmental memorandum to the Select Committee 10 — frames the policy choices for re-committal. A series of operationalising statutory instruments sits alongside the Bill: SI 2026/24 on Armed Forces Commissioner service complaints investigations 11, SI 2026/372 on family definition under the Commissioner Act 12, SI 2026/428 on Ministry of Defence Police vetting 13, and SI 2026/166 amending the RAF Terms of Service Regulations 2007 14. The Scottish Parliament has agreed an LCM 15. The Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2025 16, laid by John Healey via HCWS1181 17 and by Lord Coaker via HLWS1184 18, provides the live baseline for the expanded Covenant Duty the Bill enacts.
Recent developments
Three developments dominate the last six months. First, the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill 2026 reported on 28-29 April 2026, focusing its Special Report (HC 1712) on the expanded Covenant Legal Duty 12. Second, the 16 April 2026 Select Committee Amendment Paper crystallised the Opposition and Liberal Democrat amendment packages: Mike Martin and Ian Roome's amendments on annual retention reporting (NC4-NC5), single living accommodation standards (NC1, amending the Renters' Rights Act 2025), a statutory Veterans' Mental Health Oversight Officer (NC2), and medical records on discharge (NC3); and Mark Francois's substantial Conservative package raising the reserve service age to 67 (Amendments 20-21), extending recall duration (Am. 22), creating reserved-occupation exemptions (Am. 23), a National Veterans' Commissioner for England (NC6), a Forces Housing Association feasibility study (NC7), and reinstating the Article 15 ECHR derogation duty for overseas operations (NC13) 3. Third, two operationalising SIs — the Armed Forces Commissioner Family Definition Regulations (SI 2026/372) and the MDP Vetting Regulations (SI 2026/428) — were made in March-April 2026 45, pre-positioning the regulatory machinery the Bill's wider service-justice reforms presuppose.
What to watch
The dominant fixed point is the 14 December 2026 expiry of the Armed Forces Act 2006 under SI 2025/1096 1 — without Royal Assent before that date, the statutory basis for the Regular and Reserve Forces lapses. The 26 January 2026 Programme Order compresses re-committal, Consideration and Third Reading into a single sitting day 2, so the practical critical path is Lords passage in autumn 2026 3. The Government response to the Select Committee Special Report (HC 1712) is the next major Government document expected; analysts should watch for whether it accepts any of the Lib Dem amendments on housing standards and medical discharge or the Conservative amendments on reserve age and ECHR derogation 45. Legislative Consent Motions from the Welsh Senedd and Northern Ireland Assembly are expected to follow the agreed Scottish LCM 6. The Defence Committee 4th Report (HC 572) line that the expanded Legal Duty should reach the devolved administrations 7 will be tested against the actual final clause text. The Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2026 — the 15th statutory report — is due late in the year and will be the first to land against the expanded Duty if Royal Assent is achieved 8. Watch also for further operationalising SIs on Reserve Forces recall mechanics, which the Bill amends but which require detailed sub-regulations to take effect 9.
Risks and uncertainties
Three risks dominate. First, the 14 December 2026 deadline under SI 2025/1096 is unforgiving 1: any Lords disagreement or ping-pong dispute could force emergency continuation legislation. Second, the ECHR territory contested in NC13 and NC15 reopens the Overseas Operations Act 2021 debate and could attract Joint Committee on Human Rights scrutiny — the ECHR Memorandum 2 is the primary corpus document on Convention compatibility but no JCHR report is yet visible in the events list. Third, the Bill engages devolved competence on Covenant delivery, healthcare and housing, and only the Scottish LCM is recorded 3; the Welsh and Northern Ireland positions are not yet in the corpus. Inferred from corpus gap: the events list contains no Government Response to the Select Committee Special Report (HC 1712) and no Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee report on the 2024-26 Bill itself, so the DPRRC's view on the Bill's significant delegated powers remains unread. The Bill text and Explanatory Notes are cited but their substantive content is summarised here via secondary documents rather than the primary text.
Scope notes
This briefing covers the Armed Forces Bill 2024-26 specifically — its service-justice, Covenant, Defence Housing, Reserve Forces and discipline provisions. The separate Armed Forces Commissioner Act 2025 and its operationalising SIs (SI 2026/24, SI 2026/372) are referenced as the immediately adjacent statutory architecture but the Commissioner Bill itself is a separate thread. The Strategic Defence Review 2025 1 provides the strategic backdrop for reserve readiness and personnel retention but is not within the Bill's scope. Defence procurement, equipment policy, military operations and the Defence Industrial Strategy fall outside this thread.
Primary legislation
Bills and Acts this regime substantively depends on. Links go to the bill's own thread on this site (where available) and to bills.parliament.uk.
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The Bill itself: continues the Armed Forces Act 2006 and amends it on Covenant, Defence Housing, Reserve Forces and service discipline.
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Armed Forces Act 2006 Parent regime
The parent statute the Bill renews and amends; s.382 sets the continuation cycle that anchors the legislative deadline.
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Immediate predecessor quinquennial Act (Royal Assent 15 December 2021), which created the existing Covenant Legal Duty in Part 16A and reformed service justice following the Lyons review.
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Armed Forces Commissioner Act 2025 Related framework
Creates the Armed Forces Commissioner office whose service-complaints architecture (operationalised by SI 2026/24 and SI 2026/372) sits alongside the Bill's discipline reforms.
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Reserve Forces Act 1996 Amending Act
The Bill amends the 1996 Act's recall and call-out provisions, with Clause 33 changes to age limits, recall duration and the recallable pool.
Legal & Policy Framework
The Armed Forces Bill 2024-26 operates within a tightly-engineered statutory cycle: section 382 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 provides that the Act expires every year unless continued, with continuation orders permitted only up to a five-year ceiling that itself requires a new Armed Forces Act. The Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025 (SI 2025/1096) carries the regime forward to 14 December 2026; the present Bill must reach Royal Assent before that date or the legal basis for the Regular and Reserve Forces lapses. That hard deadline disciplines everything else in the lifecycle.
On top of that continuity function, the Bill amends three layers of the existing service framework. First, the service-justice layer: court-martial procedures, the Director of Service Prosecutions appointment under s.364, MoD Police vetting (SI 2026/428), and service complaints (now flowing through the new Armed Forces Commissioner created by AFCA 2025 and operationalised by SI 2026/24 and SI 2026/372). Second, the personnel layer: reserve recall under the Reserve Forces Act 1996, terms of service under the 2007 Regulations (amended by SI 2025/218 and SI 2026/166), and a new statutory Defence Housing Service. Third, the Covenant layer: Part 16A of the 2006 Act is broadened so that the 'due regard' duty bites on additional central-government bodies, responding directly to the Defence Committee's HC 572 recommendation.
The Bill follows the historic procedure for quinquennial Armed Forces Bills: after Second Reading it is committed not to a Public Bill Committee but to an ad hoc Select Committee with witness-evidence powers (Clive Efford's committee, which reported in HC 1712 on 28-29 April 2026), and is then recommitted to a Committee of the whole House for line-by-line scrutiny. The 26 January 2026 Programme Order disapplies Standing Order 83B and compresses Committee, Consideration and Third Reading into a single sitting day.
Devolution-settlement work runs alongside: the Bill extends UK-wide and engages devolved competence on Covenant delivery, healthcare and housing. The Scottish Parliament has agreed an LCM (event 28822); Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to follow. The Lords ECHR memorandum (event 28818) is the doctrinal anchor against which the Opposition NC13 (Article 15 derogation duty) and NC15 (reservist ECHR exemption) amendments are tested — both would re-open the territory contested during passage of the Overseas Operations Act 2021.
The regime therefore reads as continuity-with-reform: the same statutory cycle that has run since 2006, with discrete reforms layered into service justice, reserve readiness, Covenant scope and defence housing, plus a new defence-drones strand introduced in early 2026 in response to the doubling of drone incidents near bases.
Statutory basis
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Armed Forces Act 2006, s.382
Provides that the 2006 Act expires one year after the most recent Armed Forces Act was passed unless continued by Order in Council, requiring a quinquennial renewing Act.
The Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025 -
Armed Forces Act 2006, Part 16A (Armed Forces Covenant)
Imposes the existing 'due regard' Covenant Legal Duty on specified public bodies in housing, healthcare and education; the Bill expands this Duty.
The Armed Forces (Covenant) Regulations 2022 -
Armed Forces Act 2006, s.364
Provides for appointment of the Director of Service Prosecutions by His Majesty the King — the head of the Service Prosecuting Authority.
New Director of Service Prosecutions -
Armed Forces Commissioner Act 2025, amending AFA 2006 Part 14A
Establishes the Armed Forces Commissioner with powers of own-motion investigation into service complaints and welfare matters.
The Armed Forces Commissioner (Service Complaints Investigations) Reg… -
Reserve Forces Act 1996 (as amended)
Provides the statutory basis for reserve forces recall and call-out, which the Bill amends to expand the recall pool and adjust readiness categories.
Armed Forces Bill — Amendment Paper: Select Committee Amendments as a…
Cross-cutting regimes engaged
- Human Rights Act 1998 / European Convention on Human Rights The ECHR memorandum (event 28818) addresses Convention compatibility, and Opposition new clauses NC13 (Article 15 derogation duty) and NC15 (deployed reservist exemption) directly contest the HRA's application to overseas operations and deployed reservists.
- Renters' Rights Act 2025 Lib Dem NC1 would amend the 2025 Act to apply MoD accommodation standards to single living accommodation — a direct cross-cutting amendment.
- Sexual Offences Act 2003 (SHPOs, SROs) and protective-order regime Opposition NC12 would empower service courts to make sexual harm prevention orders, sexual risk orders, domestic abuse protection orders and stalking protection orders on persons who leave service before trial — engaging the civilian protective-order regime directly.
- Devolution settlements (Scotland Act 1998, Government of Wales Act 2006, Northern Ireland Act 1998) Covenant Duty delivery, healthcare and housing aspects of the Bill touch devolved competence, triggering legislative consent — Scottish LCM agreed (event 28822); Welsh and NI LCMs expected.
Key concepts
Continuation
The statutory mechanism in s.382 of the 2006 Act by which the Act is extended for up to one year by Order in Council, subject to a five-year ceiling that triggers a new Act.
Covenant Legal Duty (Part 16A 'due regard')
The statutory duty on specified public bodies to have due regard to the Armed Forces Covenant principles in housing, healthcare and education, currently set by the 2022 Regulations.
Defence Housing Service
New statutory body announced at Bill introduction to deliver service family accommodation and (per Lib Dem NC1) potentially single living accommodation.
Reserve recall
Power under the Reserve Forces Act 1996 (as amended) to call out former Service personnel and reservists for permanent service.
Service Justice System
The system of courts-martial, summary hearings and appeals governing personnel subject to service law under the 2006 Act.
Forward look calendar
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Re-committal of the Bill to a Committee of the whole House and Consideration / Third Reading under the 26 January 2026 Programme Order, taken in a single day.
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Government response to the Select Committee Special Report (HC 1712).
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Lords stages — Second Reading, Committee, Report, Third Reading.
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Royal Assent of the new Armed Forces Act before the 2006 Act's continuation expiry at end of 14 December 2026.
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Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2026 (15th statutory report) — the first against the expanded Legal Duty if the Bill receives Royal Assent in time.
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Legislative Consent Motions from the Welsh Senedd and Northern Ireland Assembly to follow the Scottish LCM already agreed.
Stakeholder positions
Ministry of Defence
Renew the 2006 Act on schedule, expand the Covenant Legal Duty in line with the Defence Committee's HC 572 recommendation, place the Defence Housing Service on statutory footing, and modernise reserve recall to expand the pool available in crises.Jun 2025Jan 2026Jan 2026Jan 2026
Tension with Mark Francois, Mike Martin
John Healey
Sponsoring Secretary of State; presents the Bill as the vehicle for the Government's Covenant pledge and the largest renewal of military housing in a generation, anchored in the 2024 and 2025 Covenant Annual Reports.Dec 2025Dec 2024
Lord Coaker
Lead Lords MoD minister; consistent line across HLWS1184 (2025 Covenant Annual Report), HLWS762 (Defence Reform) and HLWS748 (Covenant Legal Duty pledge) defending statutory expansion of the Covenant Duty.Dec 2025Jul 2025Jun 2025
Al Carns
Then Minister for Veterans and People; HCWS747 set out the formal Government pledge to expand the Covenant Legal Duty through the Bill in line with the Defence Committee report.Jun 2025
Defence Committee (House of Commons)
Recommended in HC 572 (April 2025) that the Covenant Legal Duty be extended to all Government departments and the devolved administrations, and that the Government develop an implementation strategy for consistent application across the UK — the policy basis the Bill adopts.Apr 2025Apr 2025Apr 2025Apr 2025Apr 2025
Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill 2026
Special Report HC 1712 (28 April 2026) scrutinised the Bill with a primary focus on the extension of the Covenant Legal Duty; reported the Bill back to the House on 29-30 April 2026 to enable re-committal to a Committee of the whole House.Apr 2026Apr 2026
Mike Martin
On retention, housing and veterans welfare: pressing the Government to publish annual retention reports (NC4-NC5), apply Renters' Rights Act 2025 standards to single living accommodation (NC1), create a statutory Veterans' Mental Health Oversight Officer (NC2), and guarantee discharged personnel receive their medical records within one month (NC3).Apr 2026
Tension with Ministry of Defence
Ian Roome
On medical-discharge protections: co-led the Lib Dem amendments and tabled Amendment 1 exempting personnel medically discharged for physical or mental health reasons from being recalled to permanent service.Apr 2026
Mark Francois
On reserve forces, drones and ECHR: lead Conservative scrutineer pressing for higher reserve service age (Am. 20-21: 65→67), longer recall (Am. 22: 12→18 months), reserved-occupation exemptions (Am. 23), a National Veterans' Commissioner for England (NC6), a Forces Housing Association feasibility study (NC7), statutory rail concessions (NC8), a defence-drones authorisation regime (NC9-NC11, NC14) and reinstatement of an Article 15 derogation duty for overseas operations (NC13, NC15).Apr 2026
Tension with Ministry of Defence
David Reed
Co-signatory across the Conservative amendment package on reserve recall age, drone authorisation, ECHR derogation, protective orders and veterans support — consistent line with Mark Francois.Apr 2026
Sarah Bool
Co-signatory across the Conservative amendment package on reserve recall, drones, ECHR derogation and veterans support.Apr 2026
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
Co-signatory across the Conservative amendment package, with particular weight on protective orders for ex-service personnel (NC12) and ECHR-related amendments.Apr 2026
Engaged, but no published position in the corpus
- Louise Sandher-Jones —
- Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee (Lords) —
- Public Accounts Committee —
- Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust —
- Council of Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations —
- Clive Efford —
- Director of Service Prosecutions —
- Armed Forces Commissioner —
- Ministry of Defence Police —