13 Dec 24. MPs to quiz MOD’s Permanent Secretary on spending.
Evidence Session: One-off session on MOD Annual Report & Accounts 2023-24.
Tuesday 17 December 2024, 10.30, Wilson Room
Watch live on parliamentlive.tv
The Defence Committee will hold a one-off evidence session on the administration and expenditure of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), at 10.30, on Tuesday 17 December.
MPs will hear from MOD officials, including the Permanent Secretary, David Williams. The session is likely to examine the MOD’s defence budget, capability, and personnel.
The session will draw upon the MOD’s most recently published annual report and accounts. The report, published in July of this year, covers the Department’s financial position and performance under the previous government.
The Committee is likely to discuss the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on the UK’s defence capabilities, in particular how the Department plans to replenish the £2.7 billion of military equipment the UK has provided for Ukraine. Questions are also likely to cover the estimated 10% cuts to the MOD’s civilian workforce.
10.30, Tuesday 17 December:
- David Williams – Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence
- Andy Start – Chief Executive Officer and National Armaments Director, Defence Equipment & Support
- Sir Rob Magowan – Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Capability), Ministry of Defence
- Aneen Blackmore – Director General Finance, Ministry of Defence
13 Dec 24. Inquiry Launch: Armed Forces Covenant. Defence Committee launches inquiry into the Armed Forces Covenant.
Today the Defence Committee launches an inquiry into the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a statement of the moral obligation which exists between the nation, the Government and the Armed Forces – its core principles were enshrined in law by the Armed Forces Act 2011.
According to the Covenant, the Government, working with the chain of command, has a particular responsibility of care towards members of the Armed Forces, including a responsibility to maintain an organisation that treats every individual fairly, with dignity and respect, and an environment which is free from bullying, harassment and discrimination. The Covenant also states the importance of supporting the transition from Service to civilian life.
This inquiry will examine how well the Covenant is serving the Armed Forces community, where it is failing them and why. It will examine how the scope of the Covenant might be extended. The Government has indicated that changes to the Covenant could be introduced as part of the Armed Forces Bill in the next Parliamentary session, and the inquiry will be an opportunity to influence this legislation.
The Committee has written to the Secretary of State to request that Serving personnel be allowed to submit evidence to this inquiry based on their personal experiences. The Committee will issue an update to this notice once a reply to this request has been received.
The deadline for written evidence submissions is Friday 24 January 2025.
Chair of the Defence Committee, Tan Dhesi MP, said: “Service personnel and their families make immense sacrifices for our nation’s defence. Their bravery and dedication keep us safe. It is only right that we respect them for this. The Armed Forces Covenant Act is an expression of Government’s commitment to treat each member of the Armed Forces with fairness, dignity and respect. But these can’t just be words on a page, and this inquiry will investigate whether the Covenant is working as intended and making a genuine positive difference to the experiences of the Armed Forces community, both within the Forces and in wider society. This inquiry will examine where the Covenant is failing personnel and why, and how the Covenant might be extended and strengthened. We want the evidence we receive during this inquiry to be powerful and influential when the Government asks Parliament to legislate on the Covenant next year.”
The Committee welcomes written evidence on:
- In what areas is the Armed Forces Covenant working well?
- Where is the Armed Forces Covenant failing the Armed Forces Community?
o What are the main causes for these failings?
- Are there areas which the Armed Forces Covenant ought to be extended to, and why?
o If so, which are the priority areas?
- What legislative changes should be made and why?
- What impact would the extension of the Armed Forces Covenant legal duty to central government and devolved administrations have?
12 Dec 24. Business and Trade Committee House of Commons.
BTC Chair: Ministers have many questions still to answer on UK position on arms exports to Israel.
Liam Byrne has written to DBT and Foreign Office ministers following evidence in Parliament.
Following evidence in Parliament on Tuesday 10 December on arms exports to Israel the Chair of the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee, Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, has written to Minister for Trade Policy Douglas Alexander and Foreign Office Minister Steven Doughty “to pursue further information about your rationale for permitting exports of F-35 components in apparent conflict with UK obligations under the UN Arms Trade Treaty”.
The letter has been copied to the Prime Minister and to the Attorney General, whose statements on compliance with international treaty obligations are cited in the letter.
The evidence session, which featured guest Members from the Foreign Affairs, Defence and International Development committees, was cut short by votes in Parliament as the Committee was exploring the compatibility of the UK government decision not to suspend export licences for F35 parts (except those destined directly to Israel) with its obligations under the UN Arms Trade Treaty.
As the session concluded, the Chair expressed that he was “not convinced” by the explanation of the ministers appearing before the Committee, noting that they had been “saved by the bell” and that he would follow up in writing. The Committee will keep open the possibility of recalling the ministers for further questions.
On Monday 16 December there will also be a debate in Westminster Hall on UK arms exports to Israel.
09 Dec 24. Accommodation for Service personnel and families is “shocking”: Government needs to act. A Defence Committee report published today (11 December) finds that accommodation for Service personnel and their families is “shocking”, with two-thirds of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) needing major work to meet modern standards, and families facing uncertainty over allocation of accommodation.
Issues with damp and mould persist and the report calls on the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) – the organisation responsible for maintaining and servicing accommodation – to do more to resolve outstanding problems with damp and mould across the Defence estate and provide the Committee with a timeline for full remediation.
Service families’ trust has been damaged and the DIO and service providers need to demonstrate a genuine “family first” approach to earn that trust back. The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) claims of a recovery in contractor performance need to be borne out in a demonstrable improvement in the customer experience and markedly increased customer satisfaction. The report calls for better communication with Service families about maintenance work.
The report calls for the MOD and the Treasury to make ongoing funding commitments to improve the Defence estate before it deteriorates beyond repair, and before greater numbers of personnel decide to leave the military because of poor accommodation. The report says that the Government should set out in detail investment plans for Service accommodation. The report concludes that the current levels of funding are not enough to bring all Service accommodation up to a decent, modern standard.
The Committee’s report is also critical of the MOD’s communication with Service families. The MOD’s communication of the Modernised Accommodation Offer was inadequate for those adversely affected by the policy change, including those with rank-based benefits, to understand and respond to its impact on them. The report notes that since the change of government, there has been no new announcement on Service accommodation allocation, leaving some families in limbo. The report calls on Government to update the Committee, and more importantly Service personnel, on its approach to allocation of SFA, with timescales and metrics for implementation.
The report finds that Single Living Accommodation (SLA) – accommodation provided to single and unaccompanied personnel, usually in a block on a base – often does not meet the needs and expectations of today’s recruits, which has had an adverse effect on recruitment and retention. While the report welcomes the introduction of a “long-awaited” Defence Minimum Standard for SLA, the Committee warns that this should not simply result in sub-standard accommodation being recognised but not rectified.
Chair of the Defence Committee, Tan Dhesi MP, said: “Our brave Servicemen and women and their families have a right to live in safe, decent accommodation. Yet evidence received recently by the Committee exposes the unacceptable conditions that many are having to endure. Service families’ trust has been further eroded by ongoing maintenance issues. It is simply not acceptable to expect those who fight for their country to live in housing with serious damp and mould – conditions that pose a danger to their and their families’ health. It is clear that many of these problems cannot be solved without major investment in the Defence estate. However difficult public finances might be, the Ministry of Defence and Treasury need to find a way to work together to make sure that all Service housing on offer genuinely meets a decent standard. The Ministry of Defence’s mishandled announcement on the allocation of Service accommodation has also left people in a state of uncertainty. Both low-quality accommodation and uncertainty over eligibility will only compound the recruitment and retention crisis facing our Armed Forces. Suitable accommodation is a key part of the offer to our Forces. If the Government is serious about addressing declining morale and low recruitment, then it needs to act fast.”