This Note provides background information on the Defence Reform Bill, which is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 10 December 2013.
Defence Reform Bill (429 KB , PDF)
This Note provides background information on the Defence Reform Bill, which is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 10 December 2013. It summarises the key provisions, background and proceedings in the House of Commons for each of the Bill’s three main parts. Part 1 would enable the Secretary of State to make arrangements for a company to provide defence procurement services under contract, should the Government decide to establish a government-owned contractor-operated entity. Part 2 would create a regulatory framework for single source defence contracts that are not subject to the usual legal obligation to be advertised and tendered competitively. Part 3 would implement proposals set out in the White Paper, Reserves in the Future Force 2020: Valued and Valuable.
Defence Reform Bill (429 KB , PDF)
The Labour Party’s 2024 general election manifesto said that, if elected, it would conduct a strategic defence review (SDR) in its first year in government. The new Labour government launched a review in July 2024. It is expected to report in the first half of 2025. The House of Lords is scheduled to hold a debate on the SDR on 9 October 2024.
The Labour government has called for an “improved and ambitious relationship” with Europe, including a new UK-EU security pact and stronger bilateral partnerships with partners including France, Germany and Joint Expeditionary Force allies. This briefing outlines some of the actions proposed and undertaken by the UK government to improve ties since the July 2024 general election.
Research briefing setting out the government’s commitments covering foreign affairs and international development for the House of Lords debate on the 2024 King’s Speech.
