Cabinet Office Ministerial Responsibilities
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.
John Hutton
Has overall responsibility for the business of the Department but specifically leads on:
Bob Ainsworth
Leads on:
Private Office to Bob Ainsworth
Supports the Armed Forces Minister on:
Leads on:
Supports Defence Secretary on:
Leads on:
Private Office to Baroness Taylor
Leads on:
Private Office to Quentin Davies
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.
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.
The Defence Support Group (DSG) brings together under one organisation the merged ABRO and DARA business units. DSG will provide a flexible, responsive, operationally excellent service delivering cost competitive in-house maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade capability to support the air and land systems of the UK Armed Forces.
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.
The Met Office provides weather and climate related services to the Armed Forces, Government Departments, the public, civil aviation, shipping, industry, agriculture, commerce and others.
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.
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.
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.
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) delivers a range of ‘through life’ support functions direct to around 900,000 serving and ex-Service personnel. These include pay and HR for the Armed Forces through the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system, administration for the Services' occupational pension schemes, MOD Medals Office, Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and the War Pension Scheme. Support for veterans is provided through a dedicated helpline, the Veterans Welfare Service and the Ilford Park Polish Home.
Service Personnel issues:
Ex-Service and Veterans issues:
The UK Hydrographic Office produces charts and navigational publications for the Royal Navy and other customers at home and abroad.