Armed Forces Bill — Selection of amendments: Commons: Chair’s selection and grouping of amendments for debate in Committee - 14 April 2026
Parliament bill publication: Selection of amendments: Commons. Commons.
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Armed Forces Bill
Chair’s selection and grouping of amendments for
debate in Committee
14 April 2026
Chair: Clive Efford
Clerks: George James, Sanjana Balakrishnan and Claire Cozens
About this paper
This paper shows —
● which amendments the Chair has selected for debate and how those amendments
have been grouped for debate; and
● which amendments have been withdrawn or not selected for debate.
Please note that the Chair can change their decision at any time.
Each numbered group in this document is a potential debate. The purpose of grouping is
to reduce repetition of subject matter between debates.
Bills and amendment papers are available in this Bill’s area on Parliament website, at
https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/4065/publications. Printed copies are available from Vote
Office outlets on the parliamentary estate.
Decisions on amendments and clauses follow the order in which they come in the Bill.
Amendments are arranged on the amendment paper to reflect that. This may not be the
same order in which they are debated.
Decisions on new clauses are usually taken after decisions on existing clauses and
schedules, even though they may be grouped for debate at an earlier stage.
Further information about selection and grouping is available to everyone at
https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/committees/general/selection-and-grouping/.
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Selection and grouping
Prevention etc. of drones and similar devices
Clause 4
Group 12: Clause 4 stand part
Protection from sexual and violent behaviour, domestic abuse, stalking and
harassment
Clauses 5 to 9 and Schedules 2 and 3
Group 13: Clause 5 stand part + Schedule 2 stand part + Clause 6 stand part +
Schedule 3 stand part + Clauses 7 to 9 stand part + NC12
[Opp]
Support for victims of service offenders
Clauses 10 and 11
Group 14: Clauses 10 and 11 stand part
Investigation, arrest and charging
Clause 12
Group 15: 6 [Lib Dem] + Clause 12 stand part
Clauses 13 to 16
Group 16: Clauses 13 to 16 stand part
Duties and powers of commanding officers
Clause 17
Group 17: Clause 17 stand part
Clauses 18 and 19
Group 18: Clauses 18 and 19 stand part
Service courts
Clause 20
Group 19: 9 [Opp] + Clause 20 stand part
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Clauses 21 to 24
Group 20: Clauses 21 to 24 stand part
Clauses 25 and 26
Group 21: 18 [Opp] + 19 [Opp] + Clauses 25 and 26 stand part
Driving disqualification
Clause 27
Group 22: Clause 27 stand part
Rehabilitation of offenders
Clauses 28 and 29
Group 23: Clauses 28 and 29 stand part
Armed Forces Commissioner
Clause 30 and Schedule 4
Group 24: Clause 30 stand part + Schedule 4 stand part
Reserve forces
Clause 31
Group 25: 7 [Lib Dem] + Clause 31 stand part
Clauses 32 to 36 and Schedule 5
Group 26: Clause 32 stand part + 1 [Lib Dem] + Clauses 33 to 35 stand part +
Schedule 5 stand part + Clause 36 stand part
Clause 37 and Schedule 6
Group 27: Clause 37 stand part + Schedule 6 stand part
Parliamentary control of armed forces numbers and commitments
Clauses 38 and 39
Group 28: Clauses 38 and 39 stand part
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Visiting forces
Clauses 40 and 41
Group 29: Clauses 40 and 41 stand part
Ministry of Defence Police
Clauses 42 to 44
Group 30: Clauses 42 to 44 stand part
Miscellaneous provisions
Clause 45 and Schedule 7
Group 31: Clause 45 stand part + Schedule 7 stand part
Clause 46
Group 32: Clause 46 stand part
Clause 47
Group 33: Clause 47 stand part
Clause 48
Group 34: Clause 48 stand part
Clause 49
Group 35: Clause 49 stand part
General provisions
Clauses 50 to 55
Group 36: Clauses 50 to 55 stand part
New Clauses
Group 37: NC 3 [Lib Dem]
Group 38: NC 4 [Lib Dem] + NC 5 [Lib Dem]
Group 39: NC 8 [Opp]
Group 40: NC 9 [Opp] + NC 10 [Opp] + NC 11 [Opp] + NC 14[Opp]
Group 41: NC 13 [Opp]
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Further groups (not yet numbered)
Amendments withdrawn or not selected
Withdrawn: n/a
Notes
Proceedings must finish by 30 April 2026
Clause/schedule stand part debates will take place unless the Chair believes that the
principle of the clause/schedule and any matters arising have been adequately discussed
in the course of debate on amendments to the clause/schedule (Standing Order No. 68).
Groupings for later parts of the Bill (and/or for new clauses and new schedules) will be
published in advance of consideration at later sittings of this Bill Committee.