Defence policy
Defence policy news from UK Parliament.
Legislation alone not enough to fix Armed Forces Covenant that is "falling short"
The Defence Committee today (Tuesday 8 April) publishes its report “The Armed Forces Covenant”.
07 April 2025
Defence Committee launches inquiry into AUKUS
Today the Defence Committee launches an inquiry into AUKUS, the trilateral security partnership between the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Australia.
02 April 2025
Members to hear from academic experts on the future of European security
The Defence Committee will hold an evidence session on the UK’s contribution to European security at 10.30am, on Tuesday 1 April. The Committee will speak to academic experts Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman and Dr Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer
28 March 2025
Lords conclude Armed Forces Commissioner Bill checks
Members considered changes to draft law. Catch up
25 March 2025
MOD Parliamentary Under-Secretary Luke Pollard to face questions on grey zone threats
The Defence Committee will question Luke Pollard MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces at the Ministry of Defence on grey zone threats, at 10.30am on Tuesday 25 March.
21 March 2025
Women in the Armed Forces: what progress has been made?
The Defence Committee is assessing progress on its predecessor Committee’s work on women in the Armed Forces, hearing from witnesses across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) including the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
14 March 2025
International Women’s Day: Defence Committee to hold women in the Armed Forces session
The Defence Committee will hold a session this month following up on the previous Committee’s work on women in the Armed Forces. Details of the session will be announced shortly.
07 March 2025
Armed Forces Commissioner Bill centre of Lords debate
Members of the Lords debate the key principles and main purpose of the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill. Catch up
06 March 2025
Government accepts majority of Committee’s recommendations on improving Service Accommodation
The Defence Committee today publishes the Government response to its report on Service Accommodation, in which the Government accepts the majority of the Committee’s recommendations for improving the quality of accommodation available to Service Personnel.
03 March 2025
European security inquiry: Defence Cttee focuses on challenges facing the UK’s industrial base
The Defence Committee will hold an evidence session on the UK’s contribution to European security at 10.30am, on Tuesday 4 March. The Committee will speak to industry experts from ADS Group, Make UK Defence and techUK.
28 February 2025
Defence Committee reacts to the Prime Minister’s statement on defence
The Defence Committee has reacted to the Prime Minister’s statement on defence.
25 February 2025
Defence Committee responds to recent statements on the war in Ukraine
The Defence Committee has issued a response to recent statements on the war in Ukraine.
13 February 2025
Defence and Public Accounts Committees express “deep frustration” at lack of Defence Equipment Plan
For the last two years, the MOD has failed to publish the annual Equipment Plan, where it sets out its spending plans on equipment procurement and support projects over the next decade
31 January 2025
Former MI6 Chief Sir Alex Younger to discuss grey zone threats
Former Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, Sir Alex Younger, will give evidence to the Defence Committee. The Committee will examine the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD’s) contribution towards combatting grey zone threats – threats that fall below the perceived threshold for military action – such as sabotaging undersea cables.
17 January 2025
Defence Committee: GCAP timescale is ambitious and Gov’t must keep pace
The Defence Committee has today (14 January) published a report on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), welcoming the programme’s progress but cautioning the need to stay on track to meet the in-service target date of 2035.
14 January 2025