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The Armed Forces (Flexible Working) Bill would make provision for members of the Armed Forces to work part-time or to restrict the amount of time they spend separated from their normal place of work. In the background briefing to the Queen’s Speech, the Government stated that the purpose of this Bill is to “support recruitment and retention in the Armed Forces”.

Clause 1of the Bill would amend section 329 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, which addresses the terms and conditions of enlistment and service. Clause 2 covers amendments to other acts resulting from the Bill, ensuring that anyone benefitting from the working arrangements provided for in the Bill would be automatically excluded from jury service, a protection which currently only applies to full-time members of the regular Armed Forces.

The government-prepared briefing on the Bill states that the Government expects to introduce the changes by April 2019.

The Armed Forces (Flexible Working) Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 28 June 2017 and is scheduled for second reading on 11 July 2017.

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