The Government’s landmark Armed Forces Commissioner Bill has now passed its House of Commons Committee Stage with the support of Michelle who was a member of the Committee that Bill.

Michelle praised the new Commissioner role as a “strong, independent voice for our forces, committed to improving service life.” The legislation passed the Committee Stage unamended.

Introduced to Parliament in November, the Labour Government’s legislation will establish an independent Armed Forces Commissioner to improve service life for our Armed Forces and their families – a brand-new role which is welcomed by serving personnel.

The Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for serving personnel and their families, to raise issues which impact service life, from kit to housing and issues affecting family life.

The Commissioner will have powers to access information and defence sites, including visiting sites in the UK unannounced. They will have the power to proactively investigate issues facing our forces and their families, make recommendations, and set out those recommendations in reports, which will be laid before Parliament.

After the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill passed Committee Stage, Luke Pollard MP, Minister for the Armed Forces, said:

“Our new Government’s plan to create an independent champion for the armed forces and their families will help shine a spotlight on issues affecting service life.

“This is a first step to renewing the contract between the nation and those who serve. Combined with the biggest pay rise for our troops in over 20 years, this shows how our Labour government is on a drive to lift military morale and retention.

“I’m grateful for the support of Michelle in scrutinising this.”

Michelle Scrogham MP said: “This is a really important piece of legislation and I wanted to be in the Bill committee to make sure it was as a strong as it can be. We heard from lots of independent experts during committee stage and I am pleased to see the Bill now move forward. Creating an Armed Forces Commissioner will really help improve service life for our forces and the families who support them.”

ENDS

Ministry of Defence Armed Forces Commissioner Bill Press Release – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/independent-champion-for-the-armed-forces-one-step-closer-as-commissioner-bill-introduced

Armed Forces Commissioner Bill, Legislative Stages – https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3881/stages