This website will be unavailable from 8am on Tuesday 27 May for several hours, for planned maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Lords asks government to think again on Armed Forces Commissioner Bill
1 May 2025
Members of the House of Lords began further checks and changes to the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill during report stage on Wednesday 30 March.
The Armed Forces Commissioner Bill aims to establish, and confer functions on, the Armed Forces Commissioner, and abolish the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman.
Further checks and changes
Report stage, a further chance to closely scrutinise elements of the bill and make changes, took place on Wednesday 30 April.
Proposed changes
Members speaking during day one of report stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill on subjects including:
- whistleblowing
- authorities of the Commanding Officers
- people defined as 'relevant family members'.
Lords votes
There was one division (vote) on a proposed change to the bill, members voted to agree an amendment that would introduce a whistleblowing function into the functions of the Commissioner.
Catch up
- Watch the Parliament TV recording.
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
Explore further information
Find out more about the bill in the House of Lords Library briefing.
Next Steps
Third reading, a final chance to 'tidy-up' the bill and make sure the new law is effective, workable and without loopholes, is scheduled for 12 May.
What's happened so far?
Committee stage
Committee stage, the first chance for members to check and change draft law, finished on Monday 24 March.
Second reading
Second reading, a debate on the key principles and main purpose of a bill, took place on Wednesday 5 March.
Image: Adobe Stock
Latest in the Lords
