Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on replacing enhanced combat body armour for frontline troops.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The safety of personnel remains the Ministry of Defence’s top priority and we are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our forces and maintain operational readiness. Where it is appropriate, alternative body armour plates have been issued to those on high-threat deployments.

Work continues, at pace, to test and ensure the safety of sufficient Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA) plates. To date 30% of the required number of ECBA plates have been scanned and are in the process of being distributed back to units. This is being prioritised based on operational requirements. It is anticipated that the most impacted users will receive tested ECBA plates by the end of this month.

The Tactical Ballistic Plate programme, which will replace both Osprey body armour and ECBA plates, is expected to deliver from 2027.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Ministry of Defence's Sex Offending Strategy, published in July 2022, whether he plans to review the current rules on the reporting of sexual offences within the Armed Forces; and whether he plans to change policy to allow certain categories of sexual offences to be reported to civilian police forces.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Since 2009, the Civilian and Service police have shared jurisdiction for dealing with allegations of criminal offending by Service personnel in the UK. A Service person therefore has the choice to report any crime, including sexual offences, to the Civilian or Service Police.

The establishment of the Defence Serious Crime Command in 2022 created a an independent tri-Service investigative capability, and placed victims at the centre of a more streamlined and effective service.  Where a report of sexual offending, or any serious crime, is made to the Service Police, the Defence Serious Crime Unit carries out an independent investigation and the Victim and Witness Care Unit provides support and advice from the point a crime is reported.

Found: Current membership Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour; Slough) (Chair) Mr Calvin Bailey (Labour; Leyton

Found: Defence Committee member present: Mr Calvin Bailey.

Found: Defence Committee member present: Mr Calvin Bailey.

Found: Defence Committee member present: Mr Calvin Bailey.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Chair); Mr Calvin Bailey; Mike Martin;

Found: Resolved, That Alex Baker, Mr Calvin Bailey, Lincoln Jopp, Mrs Emma Lewell -Buck, Jesse Norman, Michelle

Submit Evidence (by 30 Apr 2025)

This inquiry will examine the AUKUS partnership, a trilateral security agreement between Australia, the US and the UK which was announced in 2021. AUKUS will see the US and UK support Australia in acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine fleet alongside a deepening of co-operation between the three countries on other advanced military technologies. The Committee’s inquiry will consider how AUKUS is progressing against existing milestones and what challenges may need to be addressed to give it the greatest chance of success. It will consider how changes in the geopolitical situation since 2021 may impact the programme, and whether governance and accountability mechanisms across Whitehall are adequate. The full terms of reference can be found in the call for evidence.