Armed Forces (Service Complaints, Financial Assistance) Bill: minister, officials questioned

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Witnesses

Tuesday 15 July 2014, House of Commons Upper Committee Corridor

At 1 pm:

• Anna Soubry MP, Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Ministry of Defence
• Mr Gavin Barlow, Director, Service Personnel Policy, Ministry of Defence
• Commodore Andrei Spence, Head, Naval Legal Services
• Brigadier John Donnelly CBE, Director, Personal Services (Army)
• Group Captain Mark Heffron, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (Air Personnel), HQ Air Command

At 2.30 pm:

• Dr Susan Atkins, Service Complaints Commissioner for the Armed Forces

This is the second session for this inquiry.

It was announced in the Queen’s Speech on 4 June 2014 that legislation would be introduced to improve the complaints system in the Armed Forces through the creation of an Ombudsman. The Armed Forces (Service Complaints and Financial Assistance) Bill to give effect to these changes was introduced in the House of Lords on 5 June and had its second reading on 23 June.

On 26 June 2014 the Defence Committee announced an inquiry into the provisions of the Bill relating to the Service Complaints system and the creation of a Service Complaints Ombudsman. The Committee is particularly interested in:

• The method of appointment of the proposed Service Complaints Ombudsman.
• The proposed powers of the Service Complaints Ombudsman and whether these are adequate.
• The effectiveness of the proposed changes to the Service Complaints system.
• What additional measures should be included in the Bill?

Further information

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