Book excerpt: For constitutional reasons an Armed Forces Bill is required every five years. The primary purpose of Armed Forces Bills is accordingly to provide for the continuation for a further period of up to five years of the provisions enabling the armed forces to be recruited and maintained as disciplined bodies. The most recent of them, the Armed Forces Act 2006, introduced a single system of law that applies to all service personnel. This years Bill renews the 2006 Act, with amendments, for a further period ending not later than 2016. The Bill also provides for: the Secretary of State to make an annual report to Parliament on the effect of membership of the armed forces on, in particular, the welfare of members and former members; the independence and inspection of the service police forces; powers for entry and search; testing of service personnel for alcohol and drugs; and punishments & court orders. Various amendments and repeals to other legislation are also made