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Defence Reform Bill: what you need to know

What is the Defence Reform Bill?

It aims to improve procurement and support of defence equipment and to strengthen the reserve forces.

The UK Defence Reform Bill is part of the UK Government’s attempt to reduce defence spend and cut the size of the MOD without losing operational capability.

So what will change?

Defence Equipment & Support

Defence Communications Support

Defence Equipment & Support

• Currently responsible for the procurement and support of defence equipment and the supply of logistics to the Armed Forces.

• Has been criticised for allowing expensive projects to run out of control, partly because of too much meddling from outside forces and stakeholders within the MOD.

• The Bill will look to allow for a commercial organisation to provide defence procurement services under contract with a Government Owned and Contractor Operated (GOCO) company in future.

Single Source Procurement

Single Source Procurement

The Bill will seek to create a new Non Departmental Public

Body – the Single Source Regulations Office – to oversee

contracts that need to be awarded without competition due to

the sensitive nature of the requirements.

By introducing the independent body, it is thought that

hundreds of potential defence suppliers will be able to enter

the procurement process and compete for contracts

previously unavailable due to their sensitive military nature.

Reserve Forces

Reserve Forces

The Bill also seeks to reform the current remit of the Reserve Forces, including:

• extending current powers to call out reservists

• allowing the Secretary of State to make payments to reservists employers’ to incentivise them to employ reservists

• providing greater employment protection for reservists

• changing the name of the British Territorial Army to the Army Reserve

Next steps

• The Government Bill was presented to Parliament on 3 July 2013.

• It is expected to have its second reading debate on 16 July 2013.

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