Ministry of Defence
The purpose of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces is to defend the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories, its people and interests, and to act as a force for good by strengthening international peace and security.
Contact information
Parliamentary Branch
Ministerial Correspondence Section
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Ministers
Des Browne
Secretary of State for Defence: The Rt Hon Des Browne MP
Leads on:
- Policy including nuclear issues and European defence
- Operations
- Personnel
- Finance and efficiency
- Oversight of major acquisition decisions and defence industrial issues
- Media and communications
Please see Des Browne's additional responsibilities as Secretary of State for Scotland.
Private Office to Des Browne
Bob Ainsworth
Minister of State for the Armed Forces: The Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP
Leads on Defence policy and planning including:
- Arms control and disarmament
- Export licensing
- International organisations
- US visiting forces
- Size and shape of the Armed Forces
- Intelligence and security, including counter terrorism
- Defence Diplomacy
- Operations including Overseas commitments and garrisons; Northern Ireland; Military Aid to the Civil Authorities; Nuclear accident response; Military assistance overseas
- The Armed Forces (Regular and Reserves) including Readiness; Sustainability; Personnel issues; Performance; Training; Reputation; Inquiries, Boards of Inquiry, Inquests; Regional issues and the devolved Administrations; Defence Estates Committee; Defence Equipment and Support business in the Commons; Defence Analytical Services Agency; Defence Vetting Agency
Private Office to Bob Ainsworth
Baroness Taylor
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Equipment and Support: The Rt Hon The Baroness Taylor of Bolton
Leads on:
- Defence Equipment Programme through life
- Defence logistic support including ABRO, Defence Aviation Repair Agency, Defence Storage and Distribution Agency
- Defence Industrial Strategy
- Defence Science and Technology including Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, and QinetiQ
- Commercial Policy throughout the Department
- Defence exports including international aspects of defence equipment and support, and defence issues in the House of Lords
Private Office to Baroness Taylor of Bolton
Derek Twigg
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Veterans): Derek Twigg MP
Leads on:
- Service personnel issues including Recruitment, basic training, and education; Service Personnel and Veterans Agency including Pay and Pensions; Equal opportunities; Service Families, and Service Children’s Education; Defence medical services including Defence Medical Education and Training Agency; Cadets; Claims casework
- Veteran’s affairs including Legacy veterans’ health issues; POWs; War Graves; Medals and memorials; Commemorative events
- Defence estates including Defence estates acquisitions and disposals; Service housing; Heritage and historic buildings
- Hydrographic Office and Met Office
- MoD Non-Departmental Public Bodies and MOD Police and Guarding Agency
- Health and safety
- Low flying
- Civilian personnel policy and casework including People, Pay and Pensions Agency
- Visits by Peers and MPs/Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme
Private Office to Derek Twigg
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Private Office
Private Office to Des Browne
Private Office to Bob Ainsworth
Private Office to Baroness Taylor of Bolton
Private Office to Derek Twigg
Executive Agencies
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory provides independent, high quality scientific and technological services to the UK Armed Forces and Government, principally in those areas not suitable for the private sector.
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Defence Storage and Distribution Agency
The Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) receives, stores, maintains, issues and distributes, explosive and non-explosive material to the armed forces. In addition, DSDA undertakes the processing of complex weapons and maintenance of a full range of stores including vehicles, engineer stores and medical equipment, ensuring that all stocks are consolidated, packed and meet the mandated requirements, before they enter the supply chain.
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Defence Support Group
The Defence Support Group brings together under one organisation the merged ABRO and DARA business units.
By joining forces, we will provide a flexible, responsive, operationally excellent organisation that delivers cost competitive in-house maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade capability to support the air and land systems of the UK Armed Forces.
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Defence Vetting Agency
The Defence Vetting Agency carries out security checks for defence employees, military personnel and defence industry staff who have access to sensitive Government information or valuable assets. It also undertakes some vetting tasks for other Government departments on a repayment basis.
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Met Office
The Met Office provides meteorological services (including climate advice) to the Armed Forces, Government Departments, the public, civil aviation, shipping, industry, agriculture, commerce and others.
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Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency
The Ministry of Defence Police prevent crime within the MOD estate. In addition, the Force has special responsibility for the policing and security of the Ministry of Defence and other Crown Estate environments.
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People, Pay and Pensions Agency
The People, Pay and Pensions Agency provides a full range of HR services to the Ministry of Defence, its civilian staff and their managers, which is also available in whole or part to other customers on repayment. The agency enables managers in MOD to manage their staff and staff to get their entitlements and manage their terms of employment through a range of services.
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Service Children's Education
Service Children's Education provides schooling to dependent children of MOD Armed Forces personnel including children of UK based civilians serving overseas. The Agency also provides educational advice and support to Armed Forces parents and children in the UK.
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Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA)
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA), has been formed through a merger of the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency and the Veterans Agency. The new Agency will provide, for the first time, a range of ‘through life’ support functions direct to around 900,000 serving and ex-Service personnel.
For service Personnel issues:
For Ex Service and Veterans issues:
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UK Hydrographic Office
The UK Hydrographic Office produces charts and navigational publications for the Royal Navy and other customers at home and abroad.
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