Armed Forces Bill — Amendment Paper: Select Committee Amendments as at 24 March 2026

Select Committee StageTuesday 24 March 2026
Armed Forces Bill
(Amendment Paper)
This document lists all amendments tabled to the Armed Forces Bill. Any withdrawn amendments are
listed at the end of the document. The amendments are arranged in the order in which it is expected
they will be decided.
This document should be read alongside the Chair’s provisional Selection and Grouping, which sets out
the order in which the amendments will be debated.
★ New Amendments.
New Amendments: 14 to 17 and NC7
_8 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
. Clause 2, page 3, line 19, at end insert—
““due regard” means that specified bodies should think about and place an
appropriate amount of weight on the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant
when they consider all the key factors relevant to how they carry out their
functions.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment defines due regard for the purposes of interpreting section 2 of the Armed Forces
Bill.
_5 Ian Roome
Mike Martin

. Clause 2, page 6, line 37, at end insert—
“343AZC National protocol for consistent access to public services
(1) The Secretary of State must prepare and publish a national protocol for
consistent access to public services for service people and relevant family
members.
(2) The national protocol must set out standardised procedures and expectations
for the persons specified in section 343AZA(4) regarding the exercise of their
functions in relation to the matters specified in section 343AZA(5).
(3) In exercising a public function to which section 343AZA applies, a person
specified in section 343AZA(4) must act in accordance with the national
protocol.
(4) The Secretary of State must lay a copy of the national protocol before each
House of Parliament no later than six months after the day on which the Armed
Forces Act 2026 is passed.
(5) The Secretary of State may from time to time revise the national protocol and
must publish and lay before each House of Parliament any revised version.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment requires the Secretary of State to create and publish a national protocol to ensure
Armed Forces Families receive consistent access to essential public services.
_10 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
. Clause 2, page 6, line 37, at end insert—
“343AZC Continuity of NHS secondary care services
(1) Within six months of the passage of the Armed Forces Act 2026, the Secretary
of State must by regulations make provision for the continuity of secondary
care treatment for a person who—
(a) is a dependent of a member of the regular or reserve forces who is
receiving secondary care services from a health body in one part of the
United Kingdom, and
(b) becomes ordinarily resident in another part of the United Kingdom
when the member of the armed forces to whom that person is
dependent is posted.
(2) The regulations must specify that the relevant health body must take reasonable
steps to ensure that any course of secondary care treatment being provided
to the dependent is appropriately transferred to an appropriate health body
in the area to which the dependent relocates.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), “appropriately transferred” means—
SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026 2

(a) the dependent’s treatment or place on a treatment waiting list is
maintained upon transfer of responsibility of care between health
bodies, and
(b) the dependent will not require a new referral form from a general
practitioner or other primary care professional as a condition for
continuation of treatment upon transfer of responsibility of care
between health bodies.
(4) Regulations under this section must include a requirement for a national
authority to issue guidance on—
(a) ‎the transfer of patient records,
(b) the continuation of treatment pathways upon transfer of responsibility
of care between health bodies, and
(c) the preservation of waiting list placement upon transfer of responsibility
of care between health bodies.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would require the Secretary of State to make provision for NHS secondary care
services to be appropriately transferred where a person who is dependent on a member of the armed
forces must become ordinarily resident in an area for which a different NHS body is responsible for
care as a consequence of the member of the armed forces on whom they are dependent’s military
posting.
_11 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
. Clause 2, page 6, line 37, at end insert—
“343AZC Continuity of plans for Special Educational Needs
(1) Within six months of the passage of the Armed Forces Act 2026, the Secretary
of State must make regulations to make provision for a plan for Special
Educational Needs awarded to a person who—
(a) is a parent serving in the Armed Forces, and
(b) becomes ordinarily resident in another part of the United Kingdom
when posted.
(2) The regulations shall specify that the plan for Special Educational Needs
awarded to a person in subsection (1), in respect of their child or children, must
be portable when responsibility for delivering that plan is transferred from
one education body or local authority to another.
(3) The regulations made under subsection (1) shall provide that, if a service family
are required to move from one base to another, for operational or other
reasons, any plan for Special Educational Needs awarded to them or their child
via their current education body or local authority shall remain equally valid,
post-transfer, with the education body or local authority which covers the area
of their new posting.
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(4) Serving families covered by subsection (2) shall have reasonable time to
negotiate a named school for their plan in their new area with the relevant
education body and local authority.
(5) In this section, “a plan for Special Educational Needs” means—
(a) in England, an Education and Health Care Plan,
(b) in Wales, an Individual Development Plan,
(c) in Scotland, a Co-ordinated Support Plan,
(d) in Northern Ireland, a Statement of Special Educational Needs.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would allow serving families, with a child for whom they have been awarded an
Education and Health Care Plan or equivalent Special Educational Needs support, to transfer that
support without penalty if they are required to move bases, for operational or other reasons, from
one area to another.
_12 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
. Clause 2, page 6, line 37, at end insert—
“343AZC Continuity of adoption and fostering arrangements
(1) Within six months of the passage of the Armed Forces Act 2026, the Secretary
of State must by regulations make provision for the continuity of adoption
and fostering arrangements for a person who—
(a) is a serving member of the Armed Forces,
(b) has entered into negotiations about potentially adopting or fostering
children, and
(c) is required to move base as part of their military service.
(2) Regulations under subsection (1) must ensure that if a service family is required
to move from one base to another, for operational or other reasons, any
adoption or fostering arrangements they have made with their existing local
authority should be appropriately transferred to the appropriate new local
authority.
(3) For the purposes of this section, “appropriately transferred” means any
adoption or fostering arrangements shall not be disrupted as a result of the
transfer from one local authority to another.
(4) Regulations under subsection (1) must make provision for minimum residency
requirements for adoption or fostering in a local authority to be waived for
any service family which is required to move from one local authority
jurisdiction to another, for operational or other reasons.
(5) Service families in this position shall have an opportunity to re-negotiate
potential adoption or fostering arrangements with the new local authority,
including prior to transfer to their new posting.”
SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026 4

Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would allow serving families who are considering adopting or fostering a child to
continue that process with no disadvantage if they are required to move bases, for operational or
other reasons, from one local authority area to another.
_13 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
. Clause 2, page 6, line 37, at end insert—
“343AZC Armed Forces Covenant Action Plans
(1) Within six months of the passage of the Armed Forces Act 2026, the Secretary
of State must make regulations requiring a local authority to which the Armed
Forces Covenant duty applies to prepare and publish an Armed Forces Action
Plan.
(2) Regulations under subsection (1) must specify that an Armed Forces Action
Plan set out—
(a) the steps the authority intends to take to fulfil its duties under the
Armed Forces Covenant,
(b) how the authority will assess local need within the Armed Forces
community, and
(c) how resources will be allocated to support delivery of those duties.
(3) A relevant local authority must, at least once in each reporting period, publish
a report on progress made against its action plan.
(4) In preparing an action plan and report under this section, a relevant local
authority must have regard to any guidance or outcomes issued by the Secretary
of State.
(5) The Secretary of State may issue guidance, including indicative outcomes or
measures, for the purposes of supporting consistent implementation and
assessment of the Armed Forces Covenant duty.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would require local authorities subject to the Covenant duty to prepare and publish
an Action Plan setting out how they will deliver the duty.
_17 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
5 SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026

★ . Clause 3, page 7, line 16, at end insert—
“(4) The Defence Housing Service will operate within a budget which must be set
out in any Defence Investment Plan published by the Secretary of State.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would ensure that Defence Housing Service’s budget is set out in any Defence
Investment Plan published by the Secretary of State.
_14 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
★ . Clause 3, page 7, line 26, at end insert—
“(e) improving the satisfaction of service families with the accommodation
provided.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would make improving customer satisfaction a specific objective of the Defence
Housing Service.
_15 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
★ . Clause 3, page 7, line 26, at end insert—
“(e) provide earmarked accommodation to facilitate “contact visits” for
children of service personnel, who do not live with them (in accordance
with any relevant court order).”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would make the Defence Housing Service responsible for providing accommodation
to facilitate “contact visits” for children of service personnel who have separated, in accordance
with any relevant court order regarding access.
_2 Ian Roome
Mike Martin
. Clause 3, page 8, line 13, leave out "service family accommodation" and insert "defence
housing"
SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026 6

Member's explanatory statement
This amendment requires that the framework agreement governing the new Defence Housing
Service pertains to all defence housing.
_3 Ian Roome
Mike Martin
. Clause 3, page 8, line 16, at end insert—
“(6A) The standards in subsection (6) must at a minimum meet the 2006 decent
homes standard.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment requires that the framework agreement governing the new Defence Housing
Service must at a minimum meet the 2006 decent homes standard.
_4 Ian Roome
Mike Martin
. Clause 3, page 9, line 12, at end insert—
““2006 decent homes standard” means the document called “A Decent Home:
Definition and guidance for implementation” that was published by the
Department for Communities and Local Government on 7 June 2006.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment defines the 2006 decent homes standard and is consequential on Amendment 3.
_16 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
★ . Clause 3, page 9, line 27, at end insert—
“(4) The Chief Executive of the Defence Housing Service must report directly to the
Minister of State for the Armed Forces regarding the performance of the
Defence Housing Service.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment requires the Chief Executive of the Defence Housing Service to report directly to
the Minister of State for the Armed Forces regarding the performance of the Defence Housing
Service.
7 SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026

_6 Mike Martin
Ian Roome
. Clause 12, page 29, line 6, at end insert—
“115C Duty to refer sexual offences and domestic abuse to civilian police
(1) This section applies where a service police force or the tri-service serious crime
unit is made aware of an allegation that a person subject to service law, or a
civilian subject to service discipline, has committed a relevant offence in the
United Kingdom.
(2) The Provost Marshal of the relevant service police force, or the Provost Marshal
for serious crime, must immediately refer the allegation and transfer the
investigation to the relevant civilian police force.
(3) In this section—
“relevant civilian police force” means the civilian police force for the area
in which the alleged offence took place;
“relevant offence” means—
(a) any offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003,
(b) an offence involving domestic abuse within the meaning of the
Domestic Abuse Act 2021, or
(c) an offence of attempting or conspiring to commit an offence
within sub-paragraph (a) or (b).
(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations specify further offences which are
to be treated as a relevant offence for the purposes of this section.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment requires the Service Police and the Defence Serious Crime Command to refer all
allegations of sexual offences and domestic violence to the civilian police forces for investigation
and subsequent trial in the civilian justice system.
_9 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
. Clause 20, page 34, line 27, at end insert “or
(iii) a retired holder of such a rank.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would add retired officers to those qualified for membership of the Court Martial.
_7 Mike Martin
Ian Roome
SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026 8

. Clause 31, page 51, line 2, at end insert—
“(5) The Secretary of State must, in respect of each financial year, publish a report
assessing the impact of the provisions under subsections (3) and (4) on the
retention of personnel within His Majesty’s forces.
(6) The report under subsection (5) must include data on the number of personnel
who have transferred between the regular and reserve forces, broken down
by service and rank.
(7) The first such report must be laid before each House of Parliament within a
period of 12 months after the day on which this Act is passed.
(8) Each subsequent report must be laid before each House of Parliament no later
than 12 months after the publication of the last report under this section.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would require the Government to publish an annual report on the impact of
provisions related to transfers between regular and reserve forces on retention in the armed forces.
_1 Ian Roome
Mike Martin
. Clause 33, page 51, line 31, at end insert—
“(2B) This section does not apply to any person who was discharged from the regular
services or the reserve forces for a medical reason relating to physical or mental
health.”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment makes former service personnel who have been discharged from the armed forces
for a medical reason relating to physical or mental health exempt from being recalled to permanent
service.
_NC1 Ian Roome
Mike Martin
. To move the following Clause—
“Single living accommodation standards
(1) The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is amended as follows.
(2) In section 101 (The standard of MOD accommodation), after “service family
accommodation”, in each place it occurs, insert “and single living
accommodation”.
(3) In subsection (10), at the appropriate place insert—
““single living accommodation” means any building or part of a building
which is provided for the use of a person subject to service law or a
9 SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026

civilian subject to service discipline as living accommodation, but which
is not service family accommodation;”.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause amends the Renters' Rights Act 2025 to ensure defence housing standards apply to
single living accommodation.
_NC2 Mike Martin
Ian Roome
. To move the following Clause—
“Veterans’ Mental Health Oversight Officer
(1) The Armed Forces Act 2006 is amended as follows.
(2) After section 343C (Establishment and functions of veterans advisory and
pensions committees) insert—
“343CA Establishment and functions of a Veterans’ Mental Health Oversight
Officer
(1) The Secretary of State must appoint a person to be the Veterans’ Mental
Health Oversight Officer.
(2) The general function of the Officer is to oversee the mental health care
and treatment provided to veterans by the health bodies specified in
section 343AZB.
(3) In exercising their function, the Officer must, in particular, monitor and
assess the extent to which health bodies are complying with the duty
imposed by section 343AZA (Duty to have due regard to the covenant)
in relation to the mental health and well-being of veterans.
(4) The Officer may require a health body to provide such information as
the Officer considers reasonably necessary to discharge their functions
under this section.
(5) The Officer must prepare an annual report on the exercise of their
functions and the general state of veterans’ mental health care and
treatment in the United Kingdom.
(6) The Secretary of State must lay a copy of the Officer’s annual report
before each House of Parliament.
(7) In this section, “veteran” means a person who has at any time been a
service member.””
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause establishes the statutory role of a Veterans' Mental Health Oversight Officer.
SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026 10

_NC3 Mike Martin
Ian Roome
. To move the following Clause—
“Duty to provide medical records on discharge
(1) This section applies where a person ceases to be a member of the regular forces
or the reserve forces.
(2) The Secretary of State must by regulations make provision for a complete copy
of the person’s service medical records is provided to the person no later than
one month after the day on which the person is discharged or otherwise ceases
to be a member of those forces.
(3) Those regulations may specify the manner and form in which service medical
records are to be provided under this section, including provision for records
to be transferred directly to a civilian health body with the person's consent.
(4) In this section—
“health body” has the same meaning as in section 343AZB;
“service medical records” means any records relating to the person’s
physical or mental health care and treatment created or maintained by
or on behalf of His Majesty's forces during the person's period of
service.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause places a statutory duty on the Secretary of State to ensure that all service personnel
leaving the military receive a complete copy of their medical records within one month of their
discharge date.
_NC4 Mike Martin
Ian Roome
. To move the following Clause—
“Independent review of Armed Forces recruitment and retention
(1) The Secretary of State must commission an independent review of the processes
for recruitment and retention across His Majesty’s forces.
(2) The review under subsection (1) must, in particular, consider—
(a) the efficiency and consistency of recruitment processes across the Royal
Navy, the regular army, the Royal Air Force and the reserve forces,
(b) the effectiveness of steps being taken to improve diversity and inclusion
within His Majesty’s forces,
(c) the impact of the quality of defence housing (including single living
accommodation) on the retention of service personnel, and
(d) the impact of the medical discharge process on retention and transition
to civilian life.
11 SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026

(3) A report of the review must be laid before each House of Parliament no later
than 12 months after the day on which this Act is passed.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause requires the Government to commission an independent review into recruitment
and retention in the armed forces and lay the report of the review before Parliament.
_NC5 Mike Martin
Ian Roome
. To move the following Clause—
“An armed forces retention strategy
(1) This section applies where the Secretary of State lays before Parliament the
Ministry of Defence Votes A paper seeking Parliamentary authority for the
maximum numbers of personnel to be maintained for service with the armed
forces in the following financial year.
(2) The Secretary of State must lay alongside the Votes A paper an armed forces
retention strategy.
(3) The retention strategy must include—
(a) an assessment of the current rates of retention across the regular and
reserve forces,
(b) an explanation of the steps the Ministry of Defence is taking to improve
retention to meet the maximum numbers of personnel set out in the
Votes A paper, and
(c) an assessment of the findings of the most recent Armed Forces
Continuous Attitudes Survey and its findings regarding satisfaction with
service life.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would require the Government to lay an armed forces retention strategy alongside
the annual Votes A paper on the maximum number of personnel to be maintained in the armed
forces.
_NC6 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026 12

. To move the following Clause—
“National Veterans’ Commissioner (England)
After section 366 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 insert—
“366A National Veterans' Commissioner (England): establishment
(1) Within 12 months of the passing of the Armed Forces Act 2026, the
Secretary of State must appoint a National Veterans’ Commissioner for
England (“the Commissioner”).
(2) The Commissioner shall act independently in carrying out the functions
of the office.
(3) The Commissioner shall, amongst others, perform the following
functions—
(a) promote the interests of veterans in England;
(b) monitor the operation and effectiveness of the Armed Forces
Covenant in England;
(c) review the effect of public policy and public services on veterans
and their families;
(d) identify barriers faced by veterans in accessing housing,
healthcare, employment, education, and other public services;
(e) make recommendations to the Secretary of State and to public
authorities on improving support for veterans.
(4) In exercising these functions the Commissioner may—
(a) carry out reviews and investigations into matters affecting
veterans;
(b) consult veterans, service charities, public authorities, and other
relevant organisations;
(c) publish reports and recommendations.
(5) The Commissioner shall prepare an annual report on the exercise of the
Commissioner’s functions.
(6) The Commissioner may at any time prepare a report on any matter
relating to the interests of veterans in England.
(7) The Secretary of State shall lay any report prepared under this section
before both Houses of Parliament.
(8) The Secretary of State must make arrangements for—
(a) the provision of such staff, accommodation, and other resources
as they consider necessary for the Commissioner to carry out
their functions;
(b) the publication of the Commissioner’s reports.
(9) The Commissioner is to be appointed for a term of three years and may
be reappointed for a further term.
(10) The Secretary of State may remove the Commissioner from office only
on grounds of—
13 SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026

(a) incapacity,
(b) misbehaviour, or
(c) failure to discharge the functions of the office.
(11) In this section—
“public authority” has the same meaning as in section 6 of the
Human Rights Act 1998;
“veteran” means a person who has served in His Majesty’s armed
forces.””
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would require the Government to appoint a National Veteran’s Commissioner for
England and sets out its functions.
_NC7 Mr Mark Francois
David Reed
Sarah Bool
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst
★ . To move the following Clause—
“Feasibility study on a Forces Housing Association
(1) Within 12 months of the passing of this Act, the Secretary of State shall publish
a detailed feasibility study into the possibility of establishing a Forces Housing
Association (FHA).
(2) The Study must examine the proposals in Chapter 5 of the 2020 Report “Stick
or Twist – A Report for The Prime Minister into Retention in HM Armed Forces
– and how to improve it”.
(3) The Secretary of State must lay a copy of the study before each House of
Parliament.”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would require the Secretary of State to conduct a feasibility study into the merits
of establishing a Forces Housing Association (FHA) as opposed to the proposed Defence Housing
Service.
Order of the House
[26 January 2026]
That the following provisions shall apply to the Armed Forces Bill:
Select Committee
1. The Bill shall be committed to a Select Committee.
SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026 14

2. The Select Committee shall report the Bill to the House on or before 30 April 2026.
Committee of the whole House, Consideration and Third reading
3. On report from the Select Committee, the Bill shall be re-committed to a Committee
of the whole House.
4. Proceedings in Committee of the whole House on recommittal, any proceedings
on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken in accordance
with the following provisions of this Order.
5. Proceedings in Committee of the whole House and any proceedings on
Consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion
one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which proceedings in
Committee of the whole House are commenced.
6. Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought
to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.
Programming committee
7. Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings
in Committee of the whole House, to any proceedings on Consideration or to
proceedings on Third Reading.
Other proceedings
8. Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.
15 SELECT COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 24 March 2026