Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Responsibilities
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
Current role holder
James Heappey MP
James Heappey was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Wells Constituency in May 2015.
Before entering politics, James served in the Army reaching the rank of Major. In a 10 year career in the Rifles, James served on operations in Kabul in 2005, Northern Ireland in 2006, Basra in 2007 and Sangin in Helmand Province in 2009. He also served in Kenya and across the United Kingdom.
James was appointed Minister for Defence Procurement on 16 December 2019, having previously served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister.
Previous holders of this role
-
The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP
2019 to 2020
-
The Rt Hon Mark Lancaster TD
2017 to 2019
-
The Rt Hon Sir Mike Penning MP
2016 to 2017
-
The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP
2015 to 2016
-
The Rt Hon Mark Francois MP
2013 to 2015
-
The Rt Hon Andrew Robathan
2012 to 2013
-
Sir Nick Harvey
2010 to 2012
Announcements
Subscriptions
- Minister for Africa and Armed Forces Minister travel to Senegal to strengthen economic and security ties in West Africa
- UK troops seize suspected Daesh weapons and detain fighters in Mali
- HMS Trent deploys to West Africa to support maritime security
- Royal Navy seizes £17m of cocaine in Caribbean drug bust
- Ethical hackers collaborate with Defence to strengthen cyber security
- UK establishes permanent military training team in Western Balkans
- Minister for the Armed Forces Global Air Chiefs' Conference Speech
- JEF defence ministers set direction for cooperation on northern European security
- Paratroopers conduct joint exercise in Jordan in support of Carrier Strike Group
- Minister for the Armed Forces IISS climate change speech