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Defence Reform Bill Committee announce evidence programme

3 September 2013

Image of UK Parliament portcullis

The House of Commons Public Bill Committee considering the Government's Defence Reform Bill will hear oral evidence on Tuesday 3 September and Thursday 5 September 2013.

The Committee will then consider the Bill every Tuesday and Thursday from Tuesday 8 October, concluding on Thursday 24 October.

The provisional programme of witnesses for the Defence Reform Bill Committee has been agreed by its programming sub-committee. The meetings are open to the public.

Programme and witnesses

Tuesday 3 September - morning

Taking place in the Boothroyd Room in Portcullis House:

From c 9.55am until no later than 11am:

  • Paul Everitt on behalf of Defence Industries Council and ADS Group
  • Royal United Services Institute

Tuesday 3 September - afternoon

Taking place in the Boothroyd Room in Portcullis House:

c2pm until no later than 2.45pm 

  • Lord West of Spithead

c2.45pm until no later than 3.30pm 

  • Federation of Small Businesses

Thursday 5 September - morning

Taking place in the Boothroyd Room in Portcullis House:

From c11.30am until no later than 12.15pm:

  • Lord Hamilton of Epsom

c12.15pm until no later than 1pm:

  • Major General John Crackett, Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets)
  • Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
  • Lieutenant General Andrew Gregory, Chief Defence Personnel

Thursday 5 September - afternoon

c2pm until no later than 2.45pm:

  • Public and Commercial Services Union
  • Prospect

c2.45pm until no later than 3.45pm:

  • Bernard Gray, Chief of Defence Materiel, Ministry of Defence
  • Barry Burton, Director of Materiel Strategy, Ministry of Defence
  • Susanna Mason, Director General Export and Commercial Strategy, Ministry of Defence

c3.45pm until no later than 4.30pm:

  • Philip Dunne MP, Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology

Line by line scrutiny of the Bill

Line by line scrutiny of the Bill will take place in Committee Room 9, Palace of Westminster on the following days:

  • Tuesday 8 October 10.30am and 4pm
  • Thursday 10 October 11.30am and 2pm
  • Tuesday 15 October 8.55am and 4pm
  • Thursday 17 October 11.30am and 2pm
  • Tuesday 22 October 8.55am and 4pm
  • Thursday 24 October 11.30am and 2pm

The Committee must complete consideration of the Bill no later than 5pm on Thursday 24 October.

These sessions will be open to the public on a first come, first served basis. There is no system for the prior reservation of seats in Committee Rooms.

It is advisable to allow about 20 minutes to pass through security checks. Timings and room numbers are subject to change.

Aims of the Defence Reform Bill

The intention of the Bill is to implement some of the proposals for reform that have been made in two recent White Papers:

Specifically, the Bill establishes the arrangements for reforming Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and turning it into a Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) organisation.

It creates a statutory framework for the governance of Ministry of Defence single source contracts and makes several amendments to the regulations governing the Reserve Forces.

Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers, on the Defence Reform Bill and find out how a bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

Have your say on the Defence Reform Bill

Although the Committee will start hearing oral evidence on Tuesday 3 September, the Committee is still able to receive written evidence from those with relevant expertise and experience or a special interest in the Government’s Defence Reform Bill.

The sooner you send in your submission, the more time the Committee will have to take it into consideration.

The Committee will stop receiving written evidence at the end of the Committee stage on Thursday 24 October 2013. (Please note: when the Committee reports it is no longer able to receive written evidence and it can report earlier than Thursday 24 October 2013).

Further Information

The Scrutiny Unit can help with any queries about oral evidence.