Reserve Forces Act 1996

Regulation and organisation U.K.

4 Orders and regulations concerning the reserve forces. U.K.

(1) Her Majesty may, by order signified under the hand of the Secretary of State, make orders with respect to—

(a) the government and discipline of any reserve force; and

(b) all other matters and things relating to that force [F1 (except pay, bounty and allowances)],

and including any matter authorised to be prescribed by any provision of this Act or expressed to be subject to orders or regulations under this section.

(2) Subject to the provisions of any order under subsection (1), the Defence Council may make regulations with respect to any matters relating to any reserve force, being matters with respect to which Her Majesty may make orders under that subsection.

(3) Orders or regulations under this section may make different provision for different cases (including different forces), and may include such supplementary, consequential, incidental and transitional provisions as appear to Her Majesty or the Defence Council (as the case may be) to be necessary or expedient.

(4) Regulations under this section may be amended or revoked by an order or further regulations under this section; and an order under this section may be amended or revoked by another order under this section.

(5) Any order or regulations under this section shall be laid before each House of Parliament after being made.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 4(1)(b) inserted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 14 para. 26; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

5 Organisation of the reserve forces. U.K.

(1) Any of the reserve forces may, by or in accordance with orders or regulations under section 4, be formed into such groupings as may be specified in the order or regulations concerned.

(2) Such orders or regulations may, in particular, include provision with respect to—

(a) the formation of the reserve naval or marine forces into divisions, classes or other naval or marine bodies;

(b) the formation of the reserve land forces into corps, regiments, battalions or other military bodies;

(c) the formation of the reserve air forces into wings, squadrons or other air-force bodies; and

(d) the formation of any such bodies as are mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) into higher formations, either alone or jointly with any other part of Her Majesty’s armed forces.

6 Permanent staff of the reserve forces. U.K.

(1) Each reserve force may be served by a permanent staff consisting of persons who are members of that force or members of the regular services.

(2) Orders or regulations under section 4 may make provision with respect to the duties of, and any other matter relating to, the permanent staff of any reserve force.