Defence Committee
James Arbuthnot MP
(Chairman)
Welcome to the Defence Committee's website.
We are a Committee of fourteen Members of Parliament, appointed by the House of Commons and drawn from the three largest political parties. Our responsibility is to monitor and to hold to account the Ministry of Defence and its associated public bodies, including the Armed Forces, on behalf of the House of Commons and the people who elect it.
We work principally by undertaking inquiries. We choose our own subjects of inquiry and seek evidence from a wide range of groups and individuals with relevant interests and experience. We then produce a report setting out our findings and making recommendations to the Government. This site contains material relating to the inquiries we have conducted since 1997.
About the Committee | Attending a meeting | Evidence | Formal Minutes
What's New and Updates
Afghanistan & the Green Paper
The Defence Committee has announced a one off evidence session on Afghanistan & the Green Paper, with the Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP, Secretary of State for Defence. The meeting will commence at 10.45 am in Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster. See press notice and letter from the Chairman of the Committee to the Secretary of State concerning what the Committee saw while on a recent visit to UK forces in theatre.
The Work of the Committee 2008-09
The Defence Committee has published its report on the Work of the Committee, First Report of Session 2009-10, HC 119. See Report for further details.
National Security and Resilience
The Defence Committee has published its report on National security and resilience, Third Report of Session 2009-10, HC 149. See Report and press notice for further details.
Ministry of Defence Winter Supplementary Estimate 2009-10
The Defence Committee has published the MoD Winter Supplementary Estimate 2009-10, Second Report of Session 2009-10, HC 150. See Report and press notice for further details.
Defence Equipment
The Defence Committee is undertaking an inquiry to examine aspects of the MoD's Defence Equipment programme. See terms of reference for further details.
Hebrides Range
A memorandum from the Ministry of Defence about the Hebrides Range in response to questions raised following a visit by Robert Key MP in a representative capacity to the Hebrides in October 2009.
Inquiries
Defence Equipment
The Defence Committee is undertaking an inquiry (see terms of reference) to examine the Ministry of Defence’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2008-09. The Annual Report, published on Monday 20 July, sets out the MoD’s performance against its new Departmental Strategic Objectives (DSOs), and shows whether progress has been made in a number of key areas since last year, such as Joint Personnel Administration, readiness and recruitment and retention.
Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2008-09
The Defence Committee is undertaking an inquiry (see terms of reference) to examine the Ministry of Defence’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2008-09. The Annual Report, published on Monday 20 July (see report), sets out the MoD’s performance against its new Departmental Strategic Objectives (DSOs), and shows whether progress has been made in a number of key areas since last year, such as Joint Personnel Administration, readiness and recruitment and retention.
The Contribution of ISTAR to operations
The Defence Committee is following its inquiry in 2008 of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) capability with a new inquiry examining the contribution of ISTAR to current UK operations, particularly in Afghanistan. See terms of reference for further details.
The Comprehensive Approach
The Defence Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the Comprehensive Approach in which it will examine to what extent UK military and non-military agencies do work effectively through a comprehensive approach “with commonly understood principles and collaborative processes that enhance the likelihood of favourable and enduring outcomes within a particular situation”. See terms of reference for further details.
Readiness and recuperation for the contingent tasks of today
The Committee is undertaking an inquiry into readiness and recuperation for the contingent tasks of today. The inquiry will examine the Armed Forces’ current state of readiness, the nature and extent of gaps in current readiness, and how force elements will be recuperated back to the required level of readiness. See terms of reference for further details.
UK Defence: commitments and resources
uncorrected transcript - 6 March
uncorrected transcript - 13 March
memoranda
Defence Committee's future programme of evidence
Recent evidence sessions - uncorrected transcripts
