07 Mar 25. International Women’s Day: Defence Committee to hold women in the Armed Forces session. The Defence Committee will hold a session this month following up on the previous Committee’s work on women in the Armed Forces. Details of the session will be announced shortly. In July 2021 the predecessor Committee published a report “Protecting Those Who Protect Us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life”. The report found that the Ministry of Defence and Armed Services were failing to protect female personnel and support servicewomen to achieve their full potential. The Government response to the report agreed to the majority of the Committee’s recommendations. In this Parliament, the Defence Committee agreed to continue follow-up work on women in the Armed Forces.
Chair of the Defence Committee, Tan Dhesi MP, said: “It is absolutely critical that we continue to scrutinise the Government’s efforts to improve the experiences of women in the Armed Forces. We felt it was only right that we picked up this work from the previous Parliament. The Government agreed to the majority of the recommendations made by the predecessor Committee – this session will help us understand whether enough work is being carried out to improve women’s treatment and their experiences of service. Recent high-profile cases and reporting have shone a light on just how extreme the challenges that women face while serving are. Gunner Jaysley Beck’s shocking case is just one example of the unacceptable treatment faced by women who have served in the Armed Forces, and which the Government should be making every effort to eradicate. Women make vital contributions to the safety and security of our country, and I am committed to returning to this policy area throughout the Committee’s work”
07 Mar 25. Minister for Veterans and People to face questions on the Armed Forces Covenant.
Evidence Session: Armed Forces Covenant
Tuesday 11 March 2025, 13.00, Committee Room 15
Watch on parliamentlive.tv
The Defence Committee will hold the final evidence session of its inquiry into the Armed Forces Covenant at 13.00 on Tuesday 11 March.
MPs will question the Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns MP, as well as Ministry of Defence officials. The session will be an opportunity to learn more about the Government’s plan to legislate the Armed Forces Covenant ‘fully into law’. The Ministry of Defence has suggested that the legal duty to give due regard to the Covenant will be extended to central government departments.
In a Committee evidence session, Mark Atkinson, Director General of the Royal British Legion, told the Committee that there is inconsistent support across different parts of country for the Armed Forces community. Members will explore with the Minister how the Government plans to make the Covenant more consistently applied across the UK.
Witnesses:?
* Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP – Minister for Veterans and People, Ministry of Defence
* Vice Admiral Phillip Halley – Chief of Defence People, Ministry of Defence
* Sarah Houghton – Director of Armed Forces People Policy, Ministry of Defence
* James Greenrod – Head of Armed Forces People Support, Ministry of Defence
03 Mar 25. Government response: Service Accommodation. Government accepts majority of Committee’s recommendations on improving Service Accommodation. The Defence Committee today publishes the Government response to its report on Service Accommodation, in which the Government accepts the majority of the Committee’s recommendations for improving the quality of accommodation available to Service Personnel. The Committee’s report described Service Accommodation as “shocking” and found that problems with damp and mould persist. The Committee’s report was critical of the Ministry of Defence’s communication with Service families, concluding that Service families’ trust has been damaged and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and service providers need to demonstrate a genuine “family first” approach to earn that trust back. The report also found that Single Living Accommodation often does not meet the needs and expectations of today’s recruits, which has had an adverse effect on recruitment and retention.
Chair of the Defence Committee, Tan Dhesi MP, said: “I am pleased that the Ministry of Defence recognises the importance of decent Service Accommodation and has agreed to the majority of the recommendations in our report. Service Accommodation has been in a dire state for too long – our Forces should not be made to live in sub-standard conditions. In their response, the Ministry of Defence has committed to holding the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to account and driving up standards.
The MOD has also pledged to invest in Single Living Accommodation that fails to meet the minimum standard, and has acknowledged problems in its communication around the allocation of Service Family Accommodation. Work to deliver a new military housing strategy, a stock condition survey and a new complaint process for Service Family Accommodation are all encouraging signs that the Ministry of Defence is responding to the concerns raised in our inquiry.
“If this Government is to truly root out the problems blighting Service Accommodation it will require a long-term commitment. The Committee will continue to monitor developments in this area and ensure that Personnel are given the housing they deserve.”