Overview

This bill mandates that the UK Parliament must approve any deployment of British armed forces into armed conflict abroad. Exceptions are made for urgent emergencies and treaty obligations, requiring retrospective parliamentary approval within three sitting days.

Description

The Military Action (Parliamentary Approval) Bill aims to increase parliamentary oversight of military deployments. It requires a specific resolution from the House of Commons to authorize any deployment of UK armed forces outside the UK for armed conflict. This resolution must use the exact wording specified in the bill.

Exceptions:

The bill permits deployment without prior parliamentary approval in two circumstances: (a) when the Prime Minister deems an emergency exists requiring immediate action; and (b) when the deployment is necessary to fulfill the UK's treaty obligations. In both these cases, the government must seek parliamentary approval within three sitting days of the deployment.

Retrospective Approval:

The bill makes provision for situations where deployments have already occurred under the exceptions and requires the government to seek retrospective approval within three sitting days.

Commencement:

The Act will come into force three months after it receives Royal Assent.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to significantly impact government spending. The primary cost would relate to the administrative processes associated with obtaining parliamentary approval.

Groups Affected

This bill will primarily impact:

• The Government (Executive): The bill significantly increases parliamentary scrutiny of the executive's power to deploy armed forces.
• Parliament (Legislature): The House of Commons will gain substantially more control over decisions regarding military deployments.
• The Armed Forces: The bill’s impact on military operations will depend on the frequency of deployments requiring parliamentary approval.
• The Public: Increased parliamentary oversight may enhance public confidence in the government's use of military force.

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