Defence Reform Bill: Lords Amendments

The Defence Reform Bill provides for the reform the way in which the Ministry of Defence procures equipment and support for the Armed Forces and, separately, extends the scope for the use of the Reserve Forces.

The bill is split into three parts and amendments were made to all three parts during the Bill’s passage through the House of Lords. All the amendments were tabled by the Government and relate predominantly to increasing Parliamentary oversight and scrutiny of the measures introduced into the Bill. In addition, the MOD fulfilled a commitment made in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State to amend the Bill to require an annual report on the state of the volunteer Reserve Forces. Two Opposition amendments were pushed to a vote and defeated on division.

The consolidated Lords amendments to the Bill are available as Bill 197 2013-14. The Bill will return to the Commons on 29 April 2014.