Defence in Government and Parliament

The Ministry Of Defence

"The purpose of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces is to defend the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories, its people and interests, and to act as a force for good by strengthening international peace and security".

Secretary of State for Defence
The Rt Hon John Hutton MP
Has overall responsibility for the business of the Department but specifically leads on:
• Defence Policy and Planning and Budget Issues
• Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Nuclear issues including Ballistic Missile Defence
• Bilateral Defence Relations with North America, Western Europe and the Middle East
• NATO and EU issues
• Media and Communications

Minister of State (Armed Forces)
The Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP
Leads on:
• All matters regarding Regular and Reserve Armed Forces
• Operations (excluding Iraq and Afghanistan) but including Counter-Terrorism, UK Operations, Northern Ireland and the Balkans
• Defence Diplomacy and bilateral defence relations (excluding North America, Western Europe and Middle East)
• Inquiries, Boards of Inquiry, Inquests
• Detention issues
• Arms and Export Control
• Regional issues and the devolved Administrations
• Defence Analytical Services and Advice and Defence Vetting Agency

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Veterans)
Kevan Jones MP
Supports the Armed Forces Minister on:
• Armed Forces Personnel issues, with particular responsibility for Defence Medical Services,
Cadets and Education, Pay and Pensions and Gurkhas
Leads on:
• All Veterans and commemorative issues
• Civilian Personnel issues
• The Defence Estate
• Low Flying
• People Pay & Pensions Agency, Service Personnel & Veterans Agency, Ministry of Defence
Police & Guarding Agency
• Hydrographic and Meteorological Office
• Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme / Visits by Peers and MPs
• Recruitment and Retention
• Service Charities

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Sate (Minister for International Defence and Security)
The Rt Hon Baroness Taylor of Bolton
Supports Defence Secretary on:
• International Security issues, including the UK's interest in NATO and European Security and Defence Policy, and preparations for next year's NATO summit, working closely with the FCO.
Leads on:
• High Level Working Group
• All Defence issues in the House of Lords

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Defence Equipment and Support)
Quentin Davies MP
Leads on:
• Defence Equipment Programme through life
• Logistic support including: Defence Support Group, Defence Storage and Distribution
Agency
• Defence Industrial Strategy
• Acquisition Reform
• Performance Management of DE&S including Major Projects Report
• National Defence Industries Council
• Defence Science and Technology including: Defence Technology Strategy, DSTL, QinetiQ
• Commercial Policy throughout the Department
• Atomic Weapons Establishment
• Defence exports including international aspects of defence equipment and support

Ministerial Committee on National Security, International Relations and Development: Sub-Committee on Overseas and Defence (NSID(OD))

"To consider issues relating to conflict, and defence, foreign and development policy; and report as necessary to the Committee on National Security, International Relations and Development".

- Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister (Chair)
- Rt Hon David Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (alternate Chair)
- Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Rt Hon John Hutton MP, Secretary of State for Defence
- Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for International Development

Other Ministers, the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee and the Heads of the Intelligence Agencies may be invited to attend as required.

House of Commons Defence Select Committee

"Our responsibility is to monitor and to hold to account the Ministry of Defence and its associated public bodies, including the Armed Forces, on behalf of the House of Commons and the people who elect it."

Members

Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP – Chairman (North East Hampshire, Conservative)
Mr David S Borrow MP (South Ribble, Labour)
Mr David Crausby MP (Bolton North East, Labour)
Linda Gilroy MP (Plymouth Sutton, Labour)
Mr David Hamilton MP (Midlothian, Labour)
Mr Mike Hancock MP (Portsmouth South, Liberal Democrats)
Mr Dai Havard MP (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, Labour)
Mr Adam Holloway MP (Gravesham, Conservative)
Mr Bernard Jenkin MP (North Essex, Conservative)
Mr Brian Jenkins MP (Tamworth, Labour)
Mr Kevan Jones MP (Durham North, Labour)
Robert Key MP (Salisbury, Conservative)
John Smith MP (Vale of Glamorgan, Labour)
Richard Younger-Ross MP (Teignbridge, Liberal Democrats)

Other defence appointments

Sir Kevin Tebbit has been appointed Chairman of the Defence Advisory Group (DAG) at UKTI.