Armed Forces Bill

Public Bill Committee: Armed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)

Why linked: Public Bill Committee 7th sitting transcript.

The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chair: Clive Efford † Akehurst, Luke (North Durham) (Lab) Ballinger, Alex (Halesowen) (Lab) † Bool, Sarah (South Northamptonshire) (Con) † Campbell, Juliet (Broxtowe) (Lab) † Carns, Al (Minister for the Armed Forces) Cox, …

Public Bill Committee: Armed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)

Why linked: Public Bill Committee 6th sitting transcript — direct record of Committee scrutiny.

The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chair: Clive Efford † Akehurst, Luke (North Durham) (Lab) † Ballinger, Alex (Halesowen) (Lab) † Bool, Sarah (South Northamptonshire) (Con) † Campbell, Juliet (Broxtowe) (Lab) † Carns, Al (Minister for the Armed Forces) …

Public Bill Committee: Armed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)

Why linked: Public Bill Committee 5th sitting transcript.

The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chair: Clive Efford † Akehurst, Luke (North Durham) (Lab) † Ballinger, Alex (Halesowen) (Lab) Bool, Sarah (South Northamptonshire) (Con) † Campbell, Juliet (Broxtowe) (Lab) † Carns, Al (Minister for the Armed Forces) Cox, …

Public Bill Committee: Armed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)

Why linked: Public Bill Committee 4th sitting transcript.

The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chair: Clive Efford † Akehurst, Luke (North Durham) (Lab) † Ballinger, Alex (Halesowen) (Lab) † Bool, Sarah (South Northamptonshire) (Con) Campbell, Juliet (Broxtowe) (Lab) † Carns, Al (Minister for the Armed Forces) Cox, …

Public Bill Committee: Armed Forces Bill (Third sitting)

Why linked: Public Bill Committee 3rd sitting transcript.

The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chair: Clive Efford Akehurst, Luke (North Durham) (Lab) † Ballinger, Alex (Halesowen) (Lab) † Bool, Sarah (South Northamptonshire) (Con) Campbell, Juliet (Broxtowe) (Lab) † Carns, Al (Minister for the Armed Forces) Cox, Pam …

Public Bill Committee: Armed Forces Bill (First sitting)

Why linked: Public Bill Committee 1st sitting transcript.

The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chair: Clive Efford Akehurst, Luke (North Durham) (Lab) Ballinger, Alex (Halesowen) (Lab) † Bool, Sarah (South Northamptonshire) (Con) † Campbell, Juliet (Broxtowe) (Lab) † Carns, Al (Minister for the Armed Forces) † Cox, …

Public Bill Committee: Armed Forces Bill (Second sitting)

Why linked: Public Bill Committee 2nd sitting transcript.

The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chair: Clive Efford Akehurst, Luke (North Durham) (Lab) Ballinger, Alex (Halesowen) (Lab) † Bool, Sarah (South Northamptonshire) (Con) † Campbell, Juliet (Broxtowe) (Lab) † Carns, Al (Minister for the Armed Forces) † Cox, …

Armed Forces Bill

Why linked: Cited by workspace synthesis

Commons Chamber debate | Commons

Armed Forces Bill

Second Reading [Relevant documents: Fourth Report of the Defence Committee, The Armed Forces Covenant, HC 572, and the Government response, HC 1034; o ral evidence taken before the Defence Committee on 18 March 2025, on Women in the Armed Forces …

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

Memorandum from the Ministry of Defence on the Armed Forces Bill

Why linked: MoD Memorandum on the Armed Forces Bill to the Defence Committee.

Direction: unknown

Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025

Why linked: Lords Chamber debate on the Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025.

Lords Chamber debate | Lords

Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025

Why linked: Lords Grand Committee debate on the Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025 — directly relevant to the renewal context.

Grand Committee debate | Lords

The Strategic Defence Review

Why linked: Filled the "Defence White Papers or strategic reviews that contextualise force structure changes" gap via web research

A root-and-branch review of UK Defence.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Armed Forces Bill

Commons Reasons 15:19:00 Motion A Moved by Baroness Goldie: That this House do not insist on its Amendment 1B, to which the Commons have disagreed for their Reason 1C. 1C : Because a presumption in favour of the offences in …

Armed Forces Bill

Returned from the Commons The Bill was returned from the Commons with reasons. House adjourned at 11.07 pm.

Armed Forces Bill

[Relevant Documents: Special Report of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill, Session 2019-21, “ The Armed Forces Bill ” , HC 1281, and the Government Response, Statement of 22 June, Official Report, HCWS109; Second Report of the Defence …

Armed Forces Bill

Commons Reasons 16:00:00 Motion A Moved by Baroness Goldie: That this House do not insist on its Amendment 1, to which the Commons have disagreed for their Reason 1A. 1A : Because a presumption in favour of the offences in …

Armed Forces Bill

Returned from the Commons The Bill was returned from the Commons with reasons and amendments. House adjourned at 11.03 pm.

Armed Forces Bill

Consideration of Lords amendments Clause 7 Concurrent jurisdiction 19:39:00 The Minister for Defence People and Veterans (Leo Docherty): I beg to move, That this House disagrees with Lords amendment 1. Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): With this it will …

Armed Forces Bill

Third Reading 15:31:00 Motion Moved by Baroness Goldie: That the Bill do now pass. The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Goldie) (Con): My Lords, it has been a great pleasure to lead the Bill through this House. It …

Armed Forces Bill

Report 15:25:00 Clause 3: Nomination of Circuit judge to sit as judge advocate Amendment 1 Moved by 1: Clause 3, page 2, line 6, after “judge” insert “licensed by the Lord Chief Justice to try murder, manslaughter and rape offences” …

Armed Forces Bill

Order of Consideration Motion 15:42:00 Moved by Baroness Goldie: That the amendments for the Report stage be marshalled and considered in the following order: Clauses 1 and 2, Schedule 1, Clauses 3 to 9, Schedule 2, Clause 10, Schedule 3, …

Armed Forces Bill

Committee (3rd Day) 15:45:00 Amendment 51 Moved by 51: After Clause 18, insert the following new Clause— “Armed Forces Federation (1) The Armed Forces Act 2006 is amended as follows.(2) After section 333, insert—“333A Armed Forces Federation(1) There shall be …

Armed Forces Bill

Committee (2nd Day) 15:45:00 Clause 10 agreed. Schedule 3 agreed. Clause 11: Service police: complaints, misconduct etc Amendment 38 Moved by 38: Clause 11, page 22, line 33, leave out “and service police forces,” and insert “, service police forces …

Armed Forces Bill

Committee (1st Day) 16:15:00 The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Baroness Watkins of Tavistock) (CB): My Lords, Members are encouraged to leave some distance between themselves and others and to wear a face covering when not speaking. If there is a …

Armed Forces Bill

Order of Consideration Motion 16:02:00 Moved by The Earl of Courtown: That it be an instruction to the Grand Committee to which the Armed Forces Bill has been committed that they consider the bill in the following order: Clauses 1 …

Armed Forces Bill

Second Reading 15:17:00 Moved by Baroness Goldie: That the Bill be now read a second time. The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Goldie) (Con): My Lords, it is a privilege to be speaking to the Armed Forces Bill …

Armed Forces Bill

First Reading A Bill to continue the Armed Forces Act 2006; to amend that Act and other enactments relating to the armed forces; to make provision about service in the reserve forces; to make provision about pardons for certain abolished …

Armed Forces Bill

[Relevant document: Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill, Special Report of Session 2019-21: The Armed Forces Bill, HC 1281.] Consideration of Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee New Clause 1 Duty of care to service personnel ‘(1) …

Armed Forces Bill

[Relevant document: Special Report of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill of Session 2019-21, The Armed Forces Bill, HC 1281. ] Considered in Committee . Not amended in Select Committee. [Dame Eleanor Laing in the Chair ] 14:21:00 …

Armed Forces Bill

Ordered, That Dr Andrew Murrison be discharged from the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill and Sarah Dines be added. —(Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

Armed Forces Bill

[Relevant documents: Oral evidence taken before the Defence Committee on 13 October 2020, on the work of the Service Complaints Ombudsman, HC 881; Oral evidence taken before the Defence Committee on 1 December 2020 and Third Report of the Defence …