Armed Forces Bill — House of Commons, 2015-12-16
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones) is right, as he so often is. I am well aware that those people are already offering advice, but it would not be for me to condone from the Dispatch Box any activity that was technically illegal in any shape or form. However, they do fantastic work I also echo the comments of other hon. Members who have thanked my hon. Friend the Member for Filton and Bradley Stoke (Jack Lopreski) for his chairmanship of the Committee. We have not quite reached the end of these discussions, however, and I would not want to take it for granted that consensus is breaking out just yet. We still have a few more new clauses and amendments to go, but I hope that we will continue in the vein in which we have started In response to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), of course we want to see the military covenant progressed in Northern Ireland in the best possible way. Major progress has been made in recent months, not least when the first two local authorities signed the community covenant. I am looking forward to going to Northern Ireland shortly to do what I can to promote the covenant in the Province. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will agree that these provisions are a major step in the right direction Question put and agreed to. Clause 16 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses 17 and 18 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 19 Extent in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and British overseas territories Amendment made: 1, page 17, line 1, after "5(3)," insert— "(War pensions committees and armed and reserve forces compensation schemes),"—(Mark Lancaster.) This amendment provides that NC1 does not extend to the Isle of Man or the British overseas territories. Like section 25 of the Social Security Act 1989, NC1 is to extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (see clause 18). Clause 19, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 20 ordered to stand part of the Bill. New Clause 1 War pensions committees and armed and reserve forces compensation schemes ‘(1) Section 25 of the Social Security Act 1989 (establishment and functions of war pensions committees) is amended as follows (2) After subsection (1) insert— "(1A) The regulations may give the committees functions relating to one or more of the following— (a) war pensions; (b) war pensioners; (c) AFCS benefits; (d) AFCS benefit recipients." (3) In subsection (2)— (a) omit the words from the beginning to the second "and", (b) for "it shall be their function" substitute "it is a function of a committee", (c) n paragraph (a), for "connected with war pensions or affecting war pensioners in their area and, where they think" substitute "connected with war pensions or AFCS benefits or affecting people in its area who are war pensioners or AFCS benefit recipients and, where it thinks", (d) in paragraph (b), for "to them by persons receiving or claiming war pensions and, if they think" substitute "to it by people receiving or claiming war pensions or AFCS benefits and, if it thinks", (e) in paragraph (c)— (i) for "them" substitute "it", and (ii) for "they" substitute "it", and (f) in paragraph (d), for "war pensioners in their area" substitute "people in its area who are war pensioners or AFCS benefit recipients" (4) After subsection (3) insert— "(3A) The regulations may provide for the committees to have names specified in the regulations (as well as being known as war pensions committees)." (5) In subsection (4), before the definition of "war pension" insert— ""AFCS benefit" means a benefit payable under an armed and reserve forces compensation scheme established by order under section 1(2) of the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Act 2004; "AFCS benefit recipient" means a person in receipt of an AFCS benefit, in the person’s capacity as such;"." —(Mark Lancaster.) War pensions committees established under section 25 of the Social Security Act 1989 may be given functions by the Secretary of State by regulations. This new clause provides that the functions include functions relating to armed and reserve forces compensation schemes established under the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Act 2004. Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill. New Clause 2 Voluntary discharge of under-18s ‘(1) The Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52) is amended as follows (2) In section 329 (Terms and conditions of enlistment and service), after subsection (3) there is inserted— "(3A) The regulations shall make provision that any person under the age of 18 shall be entitled to end their service with a regular force by giving not less than 14 days’ notice in writing to their commanding officer, and shall ensure that any person enlisting under the age of 18 is informed of this right when they enlist."" —(Liz Saville Roberts.) This amendment ensures that those under 18 years of age are to discharge themselves from the Armed Forces should they so wish. Brought up, and read the First time.