# Defence Council of the United Kingdom

The Defence Council of the United Kingdom is the supreme governing body of the British Armed Forces. It was established by the Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964, which statutorily delegated the military authority of the Crown, as head of the Armed Forces, to the Defence Council. It has the power of "command and administration" over the military.
The Defence Council consists of the Defence Board, its principal committee, as well as the Admiralty Board, the Army Board and the Air Force Board. The Defence Board is chaired by the Secretary of State for Defence, the minister of the crown with "general responsibility for defence" of the United Kingdom.

## Functions

Prior to 1964, there were five government ministries responsible for the British Armed Forces: the Admiralty, the War Office, the Air Ministry, the Ministry of Aviation, and a smaller Ministry of Defence. By Orders-in-Council issued under the Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964, the functions of these bodies were transferred to the Defence Council and the Secretary of State for Defence, who heads a larger Ministry of Defence.
The Secretary of State for Defence, who is a member of the Cabinet, chairs the Defence Council, and is accountable to the King and to Parliament for its business. The letters patent constituting the Defence Council vest it with the power of command over His Majesty's Forces and give it responsibility for their administration, or in the words of the letters patent:
   …to administer such matters pertaining to Our Naval Military and Air Forces as We through Our Principal Secretary of State for Defence direct them to execute And to have command under Us of all Officers Ratings Soldiers and Airmen of Our Naval Military and Air Forces…
In practice, the Defence Council is a formal body, and almost all its work is conducted by the Defence Board. In addition, the three service boards (the Admiralty Board, the Army Board and the Air Force Board), which are sub-committees of the Defence Council meet annually for each service chief to report to the Secretary of State on the health of their respective services.

## Membership

As of March 2025, membership of the Defence Council is as follows:
| Members | Title | Name |
| Political | Secretary of State for Defence (Chair) | John Healey MP |
| Political | Minister of State for Defence | Lord Coaker |
| Political | Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry | Maria Eagle MP |
| Political | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces | Luke Pollard MP |
| Political | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People | Alistair Cairns MP |
| His Majesty's Civil Service | Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence | David Williams |
| His Majesty's Civil Service | Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of Defence | Paul Lincoln |
| His Majesty's Civil Service | Director General Finance | Aneen Blackmore |
| Military | Chief of the Defence Staff | Admiral Sir Tony Radakin |
| Military | Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff | General Dame Sharon Nesmith |
| Military | First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff | Admiral Sir Ben Key |
| Military | Chief of the General Staff | General Sir Roly Walker |
| Military | Chief of the Air Staff | Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton |
| Military | Commander Strategic Command | General Sir James Hockenhull |

## Defence Board

The Defence Board is described as the highest committee of the Ministry of Defence, responsible for the full range of defence business other than the conduct of operations. It meets every month and provides strategic direction and oversight of defence matters.
| Members | Title | Name |
| Political | Secretary of State for Defence (Chairperson) | John Healey MP |
| Political | Minister of State (Minister for Defence Procurement) | Maria Eagle MP |
| Political | Minister of State in the House of Lords | Lord Coaker |
| Political | Minister of State (Minister for the Armed Forces) | Luke Pollard MP |
| Political | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People | Alistair Cairns MP |
| His Majesty's Civil Service | Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence | David Williams |
| His Majesty's Civil Service | Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence | Paul Lincoln |
| His Majesty's Civil Service | Director General Finance | Aneen Blackmore |
| His Majesty's Civil Service | Chief Executive Officer of Defence Equipment and Support | Andy Start |
| Military | Chief of the Defence Staff | Admiral Sir Tony Radakin |
| Military | Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff | General Dame Sharon Nesmith |
| Non-executive board members | Lead Non-Executive Board Member | Brian McBride |
| Non-executive board members | Chair of the Defence Audit and Risk Assurance Committee | Dr Brian Gilvary |
| Non-executive board members | Lead Non-Executive Director to the Defence Nuclear Board | Robin Marshall |
| Non-executive board members | Chair of the People Committee | Kate Guthrie |