Armed Forces Commissioner
(4 days, 6 hours ago)
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The Minister for the Armed Forces (Luke Pollard)
I am today announcing the launch of the recruitment campaign for the UK’s first ever Armed Forces Commissioner—an important step in this Government’s commitment to renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve.
As we set out in the strategic defence review, people are fundamental to UK defence and to delivering the transformation to which this Government are committed.
The creation of the AFC is a move of unprecedented support for our armed forces personnel and their families. The role will be subject to a full public appointment process, regulated and overseen by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
The AFC will be an independent champion for service personnel and their families, with authority and discretion to investigate a wide variety of welfare issues that impact service life. This could include issues related to kit and equipment, unacceptable behaviours, or service accommodation.
The commissioner will have new powers extending beyond anything seen before, including unprecedented access to UK defence sites to observe activity, access information and speak to personnel of all ranks and grades. The responsibilities of the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces will also transfer across to the AFC, who will continue to drive improvements and strengthen the fairness, effectiveness, and efficiency of the service complaints system. It is critically important to ensure the highest confidence for the armed forces community in the handling of the service complaints process, in particular the independence and transparency of the system.
The preferred candidate to become the AFC will also be subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the House of Commons Defence Committee. This will allow the Committee to scrutinise the position of the preferred candidate and publish a report setting out its views on their suitability.
In addition to being independent from the Ministry of Defence, the commissioner will strengthen Parliament’s oversight, knowledge and scrutiny of issues facing our armed forces personnel and their families by producing annual and thematic reports into the welfare issues they face. This will enable Parliament to hold the Ministry of Defence to account to ensure changes to policy and process can be brought about to improve lives.
Applications for the AFC will close on 11 July 2025, with the option to extend by two weeks depending on the diversity and quality of the candidate field. Sifting, shortlisting, and interviews will follow. The preferred candidate is expected to be identified by October 2025, with the HCDC pre-appointment hearing expected in November 2025. The successful candidate would then receive a confirmed offer of appointment subject to appropriate security clearance. We expect to have the new commissioner appointed by early 2026.
[HCWS700]
Patrick Finucane Inquiry
(4 days, 6 hours ago)
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The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)
I wish to provide an update to the House on the Government decision to establish an independent statutory inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane in February 1989.
Today, the Government have appointed the right hon. Sir Gary Hickinbottom as chair of the Patrick Finucane inquiry. The inquiry is being established under section 1 of the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents, and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath. The Government have also today appointed the Baroness O’Loan and Francesca Del Mese as assessors to the inquiry under section 11 of the Inquiries Act.
The appointment of Sir Gary follows my announcement, on 11 September 2024, that the Government will establish an independent statutory inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane. This decision was in response to the 2019 judgment of the Supreme Court, which found that all the previous investigations into the murder had been insufficient to enable the state to discharge its obligations under article 2 of the European convention on human rights.
The murder of Mr Finucane in front of his wife, Geraldine, who was also wounded, and his three children, was a barbarous and heinous crime and one which continues to highlight the legacy of the troubles in Northern Ireland. I commend and support the tireless campaign of Mrs Finucane and her family in seeking answers to the brutal murder of their loved one and I am confident that this inquiry will provide answers to the family who have suffered so terribly.
In determining who should chair the inquiry, I considered that in view of the nature of the evidence and questions to be tested by the Patrick Finucane inquiry, a judicial chairperson, sitting alone without a panel and with two assessors, would be most appropriate for the role.
Sir Gary has had a distinguished judicial career in England and Wales. He is currently President of Welsh Tribunals and member of the judicial openness and transparency board. He was made a full-time judge in 2000 and was appointed to a succession of judicial appointments in both the court and tribunal systems. In 2021, Sir Gary retired from the Court of Appeal to conduct a commission of inquiry into governance and corruption in the British Virgin Islands, on which he reported in April 2022.
Baroness O’Loan is a life peer appointed to the House of Lords in 2009. She became a member of the Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee in January 2025. Prior to that, she was a member of various House of Lords Select Committees from 2010 to 2024. Baroness O’Loan was the first Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland.
Francesca Del Mese is an international criminal and human rights lawyer with over 25 years of experience in rule of law and security sector reform, specialising in conflict-affected and fragile states and countries experiencing political transition. She serves as a member of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal and is also a judge (recorder) of the Crown Court of England and Wales.
I am delighted that Sir Gary Hickinbottom has accepted this important role as chair of the Patrick Finucane inquiry and that Baroness O’Loan and Francesca Del Mese have accepted the important roles of assessors to the inquiry. I am confident that, together, their valuable knowledge, experience and professionalism will be of great benefit to the work of the Patrick Finucane inquiry.
The chair will now meet with the family and consult them on the terms of reference.
[HCWS699]