Secretary of State for Defence - Rt Hon MP
The Secretary of State for Defence has overall responsibility for
the business of the department.
Responsibilities include:
- strategic operations and operational strategy, including as a
member of the National Security Council
- defence planning, programme and resource allocation
- strategic international partnerships: US, France, Germany,
Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, NATO
- nuclear operations, policy and organisations
- strategic communications
Minister of State (Minister for Defence Procurement) -
The Minister for Defence Procurement is responsible for the
Defence Equipment Plan, relations with defence industry and
exports, science and technology.
Responsibilities include:
- delivery of the Equipment Plan
- nuclear enterprise
- Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) reform
- defence exports
- innovation
- defence science and technology including Dstl
- information computer technology
- the Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO)
- DIO estates and investment
- environment and sustainability
Minister of State -
The Minister of State is spokesperson in the House of Lords on
all defence matters, responsible for corporate governance,
international arms control and counter-proliferation, European
Union (EU) and Asia/Far East defence engagement. Responsibilities
include:
- corporate governance including transformation programme;
single departmental plan, risk reporting and health, safety and
security
- EU relations, including Brexit (excluding No Deal planning)
- engagement with retired senior Defence personnel and wider
opinion formers
- arms control and counter-proliferation, including strategic
export licensing and chemical and biological weapons
- UK Hydrographic Office
- Statutory Instrument programme
- Australia, Asia and Far East defence engagement
- Defence Fire and Rescue
- safety and security
- Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland devolved authorities
- ship wrecks, museums and heritage
- ministerial correspondence and PQs
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for the
Armed Forces) -
The Minister for the Armed Forces is responsible for armed forces
activity including operations, operational legal matters, force
generation and international defence engagement.
Responsibilities include:
- operations and operational legal policy
- Brexit no deal planning
- force generation (including exercises)
- military recruitment and retention policy (regulars and
reserves)
- cyber
- Permanent Joint Operating bases
- international defence engagement strategy
- lead for defence engagement in Africa and Latin America
- human security
- operational public inquiries, inquests
- youth and cadets
- commemorations, ceremonial duties, medallic recognition and
protocol policy and casework
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for
Defence People and Veterans -
Responsibilities include:
- civilian and service personnel policy
- armed forces pay, pensions and compensation
- Armed Forces Covenant
- welfare and service families
- community engagement
- equality, diversity and inclusion
- veterans (including resettlement, transition, defence
charities and Ministerial Covenant and Veterans Board, and Office
of Veteran Affairs)
- legacy issues and non-operational public inquiries and
inquests
- mental health
- Defence Medical Services
- the people programme (Flexible Engagement Strategy, Future
Accommodation Model and Enterprise Approach)
- estates service family accommodation policy and engagement
with welfare
