London Armed Forces Bill debate: watch free on 2 September
The Armed Forces Bill enters its House of Lords committee stage in London on Wednesday 2 September, with the first live broadcast beginning at 3.45pm. Proceedings take place at the House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, London SW1A 0PW, and are free for the general public to follow on Parliament TV.
UK Parliament has scheduled a second committee day for Tuesday 8 September. That timetable remains subject to change, and additional days may be added.
Dates, venue and viewing details
- Event: Armed Forces Bill Lords committee stage
- First scheduled day: Wednesday 2 September, from 3.45pm
- Second scheduled day: Tuesday 8 September
- Venue: House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, London SW1A 0PW
- Cost: Free to watch on Parliament TV
- Audience: Members of the public interested in defence, service conditions and parliamentary scrutiny
The published notice directs viewers to the live online broadcast but does not provide an end time or details for booking an in-person place. It also contains no specific transport or accessibility guidance for visitors.
What happens during the committee stage
Committee stage is the point at which members examine a bill clause by clause. They begin at the front of the legislation and work through each section in order, considering amendments to the existing wording as well as proposals for entirely new clauses.
This is more detailed than the bill’s second reading, held on Monday 6 July, when members debated its main objectives. The September sessions move the discussion onto the individual provisions and the changes members want the House to consider.
The Armed Forces Bill is intended to renew the Armed Forces Act 2006, keeping the principal legislation governing the armed forces in force for another five years. According to UK Parliament, its provisions also cover national security, service conditions and measures relating to the service justice system.
Housing, the covenant and stalking measures lead day one
The first committee session is expected to cover several areas affecting serving personnel and organisations connected with defence. Proposed amendments listed by UK Parliament include bringing public bodies and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary within the Armed Forces Covenant.
Members are also due to consider the function and oversight of the Defence Housing Service, alongside standards for single living accommodation. These subjects place the management and condition of service accommodation directly within the bill’s detailed examination.
Another proposal concerns the creation of a Service Stalking Protection Notice. The agenda also includes the authority of the Provost Marshal in relation to all service offences.
The source does not provide a separate list of subjects for the session scheduled on 8 September. Because committee work proceeds through the bill in order, the content of that sitting will depend on how far members progress and which amendments remain for consideration.
How to follow the debate and read the record
The public can watch the first committee-stage proceedings live on Parliament TV from 3.45pm on 2 September. No booking requirement is listed for the online broadcast.
Readers who cannot follow the debate live can use the Lords Hansard transcript, which UK Parliament says will be available from three hours after the debate. Anyone planning to follow the second scheduled day should check the parliamentary timetable because the 8 September date may change and further committee days may be added.
Source: UK Parliament News
Context & actions About this article
Source check Source trail
Event details and debate topics were checked against the UK Parliament notice published on 28 August 2026.
- Confirmed the first committee day as Wednesday 2 September with live coverage from 3.45pm.
- Confirmed the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster as the venue.
- Checked the four amendment areas listed for the opening session.
- Retained Parliament's warning that the 8 September sitting may change and extra days may b...
- Source
- UK Parliament News
- Scope
- United Kingdom
- Updated
- 2026-08-28 12:57
Source check
Report a trust issue
Send a clear signal to community moderation if the source, facts or context need review.
Comments