Committees

Defence Committee

Commons Select Committee

The Defence Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Ministry of Defence and its associated public bodies. You can follow the Committee on X (formerly Twitter) using @CommonsDefence.

The Committee also has a Sub-Committee to inquire into topics of its choosing.

Image representing the committee

7 current inquiries

Inquiries allow committees to consider oral and written evidence on a particular topic. They usually result in the publication of a report.

View all inquiries
The Armed Forces Covenant
Written evidence:
Accepting
Deadline 24 January 2025
Opened 13 December 2024
The UK contribution to European Security
Written evidence:
Accepting
Deadline 17 January 2025
Opened 3 December 2024
Developing AI capacity and expertise in UK Defence
Report:
Published
On 10 January 2025
Govt. response:
Due by
On 10 March 2025
Opened 14 December 2023
Women in the Armed Forces: Follow-Up (2023)
Opened 21 September 2023
Defence in the Grey Zone
Opened 18 September 2023
Future Aviation Capabilities
Report:
Published
On 14 January 2025
Govt. response:
Due by
On 14 March 2025
Opened 10 September 2023
Service Accommodation
Report:
Published
On 11 December 2024
Govt. response:
Due by
On 11 February 2025
Opened 13 July 2023

Non-inquiry work

Non-inquiry sessions
Non-inquiry sessions are brief packages of work that will not necessarily result in a report. They may be used to revisit previous inquiry topics or take evidence on a topical matter.

Latest news

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Defence Committee: GCAP timescale is ambitious and Gov’t must keep pace
The Defence Committee has today (14 January) published a report on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), welcoming the programme’s progress but cautioning the need to stay on track to meet the in-service target date of 2035.
14 January 2025
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Defence Committee: MOD must learn from Ukraine and embrace AI
Ukraine has shown that artificial intelligence (AI) is already delivering military advantage in conflict and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) should embrace the change AI is bringing to defence, a report by the Defence Committee has found.
10 January 2025
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MOD lifts restriction on serving personnel giving evidence for Armed Forces Covenant inquiry
On the request of the Defence Committee, the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon. John Healey, has granted special dispensation to Service Personnel to provide evidence to the Committee’s inquiry into the Armed Forces Covenant.
9 January 2025

Upcoming events

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Tuesday 28 January 2025
10:30am Public
The UK contribution to European Security - Oral evidence 28 January 2025
Wilson Room
Tuesday 21 January 2025
10:30am Public
Defence in the Grey Zone - Oral evidence 21 January 2025
10:30am
  • Dr Margriet Drent (Policy Adviser at the Counter Hybrid Unit at Ministry of Defence (The Netherlands))
11:30am
  • Sir Alex Younger KCMG (Ex-Chief at MI6)
Room 16, Palace of Westminster

Latest publications

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Letter dated 19th December from Secretary of State to Chair regarding the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill
Open PDF
226KB
Open PDF
226KB
Correspondence
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Programme
Inquiry Future Aviation Capabilities
Open PDF
425KB
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HC 598
Report
2nd Report - Developing AI capacity and expertise in UK defence
Open PDF
668KB
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HC 590
Report

Contact us

  • Email: defcom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 3113 (general enquiries) | 020 7219 2996 (media enquiries)
  • Address: Defence Committee, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA