Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, at what stage in the interview process is the forthcoming appointment of the Armed Forces Commissioner.

Five candidates have been interviewed for the role of the Armed Forces Commissioner to date.

The recruitment follows the Governance Code on Public Appointments, which is designed to ensure the process is fair, open, and transparent.

We are committed to appointing the right person for this critical role, which is central to delivering a trusted and effective service for our people. It is imperative that the Armed Forces Commissioner and their office are set up for success to ensure maximum effect. It is expected that the Commissioner will be appointed this year and their office operational from April, as previously stated.