The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces is a mid-level ministerial position at the Ministry of Defence in the Government of the United Kingdom. It has been held by Alistair Carns since September 2025.
The office sometimes acts as the deputy to the secretary of state for defence, when it is of Minister of State rank. In July 2024, the appointment of Luke Pollard reverted the ministerâÂÂs title to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.
The corresponding shadow minister is the shadow minister for the armed forces.
Roles
The responsibilities of the minister of state for the armed forces are:
- implementation of relevant SDR Vision and Recommendations
- oversight of Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ)
- legislation (including Armed Forces Bill)
- Northern Ireland Legacy
- Ukraine support â operations
- autonomy and drones, including Drone Centre of Excellence
- Force Posture and Deployment
- Intelligence
- Global Operational policy and commitments
- North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) operations and planning
- crisis response
- Permanent Joint Operational Bases and Overseas Bases (including Cyprus, Falkland Islands and Gibraltar)
- Military Aid to Civilian Authority (MACA)
- Homeland Defence
- UN Peacekeeping and Human Security Call Out Orders
- Overseas Security and Justice Assistance Reports
List of ministers and under-secretaries
Colour key (for political parties):<br/>
Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces
References
External links