We protect the security, independence and interests of our country at home and abroad. We work with our allies and partners whenever possible. Our aim is to ensure that the armed forces have the training, equipment and support necessary for their work, and that we keep within budget.
Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP
Secretary of State for Defence
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
| Date | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Sep. 21 | Oral Questions | Oral Answers to Questions |
| May. 20 | Urgent Questions | Use of Torture Overseas |
| Feb. 26 | Westminster Hall | Cawdor Barracks |
| May. 21 | Adjournment Debate | Christmas Island Nuclear Testing: Compensation |
| Title | Last Event | Next Event Date | Last Updated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill 2019-21 | 1st reading: House of Commons (no debate) |
2nd reading: House of Commons 23 Sep 2020 |
10 Sep 2020, 12:20 p.m. | |
| A Bill to Make provision about legal proceedings and consideration of derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights in connection with operations of the armed forces outside the British Islands. | ||||
| Dates | Department | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Laid 9 Mar 2020 In Force 6 Apr 2020 |
Ministry of Defence | Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme (Amendment) Order 2020 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation | Made negative procedure |
| This Order amends the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme 1983 (“the Scheme”), which makes provision for the payment of pensions and allowances to, or in respect of, civilians who were killed or injured during the 1939-1945 World War. | |||
|
Laid 9 Mar 2020 In Force 6 Apr 2020 |
Ministry of Defence | Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2020 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation | Made negative procedure |
| This Order amends the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/517) (“the 2011 Order”), which provides for benefits to be payable to, or in respect of, a person by reason of injury, illness or death caused wholly or partly, by service in the regular or reserve armed forces. | |||
Ministry of Defence Select Committee Home Page
Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.
At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries, and the Select Committee will occasionally publish formal reports of their findings.
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sep. 21 | Ministry of Defence Police Privacy Notice on collection of personal data for NHS Track and Trace and NHS Scotland Trace and Protect | Guidance and Regulation |
| Sep. 21 | Tri-service resettlement manual (JSP 534) | Guidance and Regulation |
| Sep. 19 | Hundreds of UK troops parachute into Ukraine for joint exercises | News and Communications |
Written Questions are submitted by Members of Parliament and the House of Lords to receive information or updates from a Department.
Departments are required to respond in a timely fashion and provide a response or requested information. Written Questions can compel detailed and specific information to be produced, and are frequently used as the source of news stories about the work of a Department.
| Date | Title | Questioner |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Sep 2020, 12:10 p.m. | Unmanned Marine Vehicles | Jonathan Edwards |
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Question To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of countries that (a) have developed and (b) are developing marine autonomous unmanned surface vehicles to detect submarines. Answer (James Heappey) The Ministry of Defence audits the integrity of our submarine fleet regularly for all threats and acts to ensure that it maintains the highest possible standards. The oceans are, and will remain, complex and challenging environments in which to conduct large-scale anti-submarine warfare despite technological advancements. I am unable to make specific comment on the UK's assessment of other countries' autonomous unmanned surface vehicles for the purposes of safeguarding national security as disclosure would be likely to prejudice the defence of the UK and the capability and effectiveness of the Armed Forces. |
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