OpenLegislation

Reserve Forces Act 1996

1996 c. 14 · Enacted 22 May 1996 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 7 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 April 2023.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 75(5)words repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 37 Pt. 9
s. 82(1)words repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 37 Pt. 9
s. 87(1)words repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 37 Pt. 9
s. 99words repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 37 Pt. 9
Sch. 1 para. 5(2)words repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 37 Pt. 9
Sch. 1 para. 5(3)words substitutedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 32 para. 162
Sch. 2 para. 3(2A)insertedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 3 para. 65
An Act to make provision with respect to the reserve forces of the Crown and persons liable to be recalled for permanent service; to amend the provisions of the Reserve Forces Act 1980 relating to the lieutenancies; to amend the law relating to the postponement of the discharge or transfer to the reserve of regular servicemen; and for connected purposes.[22nd May 1996]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C1C2

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act: power to amend conferred (4.6.2007) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 381, 383(2); S.I. 2007/1442, art. 2(2)

C2

Act extended (with modifications) (Isle of Man) (1.11.2010) by The Reserve Forces Act 1996 (Isle of Man) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2470), art. 2, Sch. (as amended (1.8.2016) by The Reserve Forces Acts 1980 and 1996 (Isle of Man) (Amendment) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/746), arts. 1, 3(3)(b))

Contents

  1. Part I: The Reserve Forces
  2. Maintenance and composition
  3. 1Power to maintain the reserve forces.
  4. 2Membership of the reserve forces.
  5. 3Control of numbers in the reserve forces.
  6. Regulation and organisation
  7. 4Orders and regulations concerning the reserve forces.
  8. 5Organisation of the reserve forces.
  9. 6Permanent staff of the reserve forces.
  10. Pay and pensions
  11. 7Pay, bounty and allowances of the reserve forces. Repealed
  12. 8Pensions.
  13. Part II: Enlistment and conditions of service
  14. Enlistment and re-engagement
  15. 9Enlistment of men in the reserve forces.
  16. 10Enlistment of foreign nationals and residents.
  17. 11Re-engagement for service.
  18. 12Service in the reserve land and air forces on enlistment.
  19. 13Transfer of men between reserve forces.
  20. Discharge
  21. 14General powers to discharge men of the reserve forces.
  22. 15Discharge by commanding officer.
  23. 16Entitlement to discharge.
  24. 17Postponement of discharge.
  25. 18Rights of men on being discharged.
  26. Supplementary
  27. 19Orders and regulations as to enlistment etc.
  28. 20Command, posting etc. of men in permanent service.
  29. 21Service of marines in the Royal Fleet Reserve.
  30. Part III: Training and other duties
  31. Obligatory training
  32. 22Training obligations of members of the reserve forces.
  33. 23Power to exempt persons from or relax training obligations.
  34. Commitments to perform additional duties
  35. 24Commitments to a period of full-time service.
  36. 25Additional duties commitments.
  37. 26Parliamentary control of commitments.
  38. Voluntary activities
  39. 27Voluntary training and other duties.
  40. Part IV: Special agreements for call out
  41. Special agreements
  42. 28Special agreements.
  43. 29Employers’ consent before entering agreements.
  44. 30New employer’s consent to continuation of agreements.
  45. 31Termination of agreements.
  46. Call out for permanent service under Part IV
  47. 32Call out of persons who have entered into special agreements.
  48. 33Acceptance into service under Part IV.
  49. 34Release from service under Part IV.
  50. Supplementary
  51. 35Exercise of certain functions under section 32 or 33.
  52. 36Parliamentary control of numbers and reports.
  53. 37Interpretation of Part IV.
  54. Part V: Employee Agreements
  55. Preliminary
  56. 38Purpose of Part V.
  57. 39Employee agreements.
  58. Liabilities of special members
  59. 40Liability of special members to be called out or to train.
  60. 41Cessation of liabilities.
  61. 42Discharge etc. of special members.
  62. Call out for permanent service under Part V
  63. 43Call out of special members.
  64. 44Acceptance into service of special members.
  65. 45Release from service of special members.
  66. Supplementary
  67. 46Exercise of certain functions under section 43 or 44.
  68. 47Parliamentary control of numbers and reports.
  69. 48Application of Part V to Crown servants, employees of sub-contractors and self-employed persons.
  70. 49Interpretation of Part V.
  71. Part VI: Call out for permanent service
  72. General liability to be called out for permanent service
  73. 50Liability of members of reserve forces under call-out orders.
  74. 51Geographical extent of liability to service on call out.
  75. Powers to authorise call out
  76. 52Call out for national danger, great emergency or attack on the UK.
  77. 53Maximum duration of service on call out under section 52.
  78. 53AAgreement to alter limits in section 53
  79. 54Call out for warlike operations.
  80. 55Maximum duration of service on call out under section 54.
  81. 55AAgreement to alter limits in section 55
  82. 56Call out for certain purposes.
  83. 57Maximum duration of service on call out under section 56.
  84. 57AAgreement to alter limits in section 57
  85. Call out of members of a reserve force
  86. 58Call out of members of a reserve force on authority of call-out order.
  87. 59Acceptance into service under call-out order.
  88. 60Release from service under call-out order.
  89. 61Alteration of authority for call out.
  90. Supplementary
  91. 62Power to exempt persons from or relax call-out liability.
  92. 63Exercise of certain functions under section 58 or 61.
  93. 64Interpretation of Part VI.
  94. Part VII: Recall for service of officers and former servicemen
  95. Liability to be recalled for service
  96. 65Liability of officers and former servicemen to be recalled.
  97. 66Persons who may be recalled under Part VII.
  98. 67Geographical extent of liability to service on recall.
  99. Power to authorise recall
  100. 68Recall for national danger, great emergency or attack on the UK.
  101. 69Maximum duration of service on recall.
  102. Recall for permanent service
  103. 70Recall of persons on authority of recall order.
  104. 71Acceptance into service under recall order.
  105. 72Release and discharge from service under recall order.
  106. Supplementary
  107. 73Power to exempt persons from or relax recall liability.
  108. 74Exercise of certain functions under section 70.
  109. 75Power to require information.
  110. 76Recall not to affect service pensions.
  111. 77Interpretation of Part VII.
  112. Part VIII: Schemes for Exemption and Financial Assistance
  113. Individual exemptions etc. from call out or recall
  114. 78Individual exemptions etc. from call out.
  115. 79Individual exemptions etc. from recall.
  116. 80Effect of exemptions etc.
  117. 81Regulations under section 78 or 79: supplementary.
  118. 82Offences in connection with regulations under section 78 or 79.
  119. Financial assistance in respect of reserve forces
  120. 83Payments to individuals in respect of financial loss attributable to call out or recall.
  121. 84Payments to employers etc. in respect of financial loss attributable to call out or recall.
  122. 84AOther payments to employers etc of members of reserve forces
  123. 85Regulations under section 83, 84 or 84A: supplementary.
  124. 86Power to suspend payments due to national danger or great emergency.
  125. 87Offences in connection with claims for payments.
  126. Part IX: Reserve forces appeal tribunals
  127. 88The reserve forces appeal tribunals.
  128. 89Jurisdiction and powers of appeal tribunals.
  129. 90Appointment of panel of chairmen.
  130. 91Appointment of panel of ordinary members.
  131. 92Membership of tribunals etc.
  132. 92ASections 90 to 92: supplementary
  133. 93General power to make rules.
  134. 94Offences in connection with appeals.
  135. Part X: General Offences
  136. Offences against good order and discipline
  137. 95Offences against orders and regulations under section 4.
  138. Desertion and absence without leave from service, duty or training
  139. 96Failure to attend for service on call out or recall.
  140. 97Failure to attend for duty or training.
  141. 98Punishment etc. of offences of desertion or absence without leave.
  142. 99False pretence of illegal absence. Repealed
  143. 100AArrest by civilian police of deserters and absentees without leave
  144. 101Inducing a person to desert or absent himself.
  145. 102Record of illegal absence. Repealed
  146. General
  147. 103Trial of offences as offences under service law.
  148. 104Jurisdiction of civil courts.
  149. 105Trial of offences by civil court.
  150. 106Offences triable by court-martial or civil court. Repealed
  151. 107Time for institution of proceedings.
  152. 108Evidence.
  153. 109Meaning of “civil court”.
  154. Part XI: Reserve Associations
  155. 110Establishment of associations for areas in the UK.
  156. 111Constitution of associations.
  157. 112General duties of associations.
  158. 113Powers and duties assignable to associations.
  159. 113ADuty to prepare report on volunteer reserve forces
  160. 114Expenses of associations.
  161. 115Accounts of associations.
  162. 116Joint committees of associations.
  163. 117Regulations as to associations.
  164. 118Compensation of displaced employees.
  165. 119Winding-up of associations.
  166. Part XII: Miscellaneous and General
  167. Miscellaneous
  168. 120Disbanding of units: charitable property.
  169. 121. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  170. 122Safeguard of employment for members of reserve forces.
  171. 123Billeting. Repealed
  172. 124Exemption from tolls etc. Repealed
  173. 125Absence for voting.
  174. 125ASupply of contact details by HMRC
  175. 125BProhibition on disclosure of contact details supplied under section 125A
  176. 125CData protection
  177. 126Postponement of transfer to the reserve or discharge of servicemen. Repealed
  178. General
  179. 127Interpretation.
  180. 128Transitory provisions.
  181. 129Application of Act to members of transitional classes.
  182. 130Power to make transitional, consequential etc. provisions.
  183. 131Consequential amendments and repeals.
  184. 132Short title, extent and commencement.
  185. Schedule 1: Enlistment
  186. Conditions for enlistment
  187. 1Paragraph 1
  188. 2Paragraph 2
  189. Procedure on attestation
  190. 3Paragraph 3
  191. Validity of attestation and enlistment
  192. 4Paragraph 4
  193. False answers in attestation papers
  194. 5Paragraph 5
  195. Evidence as to attestation papers
  196. 6Paragraph 6
  197. ...
  198. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  199. Schedule 2: Deserters and absentees without leave
  200. Preliminary Repealed
  201. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  202. Arrest Repealed
  203. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  204. Proceedings before a civil court where persons suspected of illegal absence Repealed
  205. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  206. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  207. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  208. Surrender to police Repealed
  209. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  210. Certificates of arrest or surrender Repealed
  211. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  212. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  213. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  214. Duties of governors of prisons and others to receive deserters and absentees Repealed
  215. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  216. Schedule 3: Evidence
  217. General provisions as to evidence Repealed
  218. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  219. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  220. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  221. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  222. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  223. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  224. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  225. Proceedings for offences under section 95 Repealed
  226. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  227. Proof of outcome of civil trial Repealed
  228. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  229. Schedule 4: Provisions of schemes for the constitution of associations
  230. 1Paragraph 1
  231. 2Paragraph 2
  232. 3Paragraph 3
  233. 4Paragraph 4
  234. 5Paragraph 5
  235. 6Paragraph 6
  236. 7Paragraph 7
  237. 8Paragraph 8
  238. 9Paragraph 9
  239. 10Paragraph 10
  240. Schedule 5: Charitable property on disbanding of units
  241. Part I: Preliminary
  242. Designation of successor to disbanded unit
  243. 1Paragraph 1
  244. General interpretation
  245. 2Paragraph 2
  246. Part II: Succession to charitable property: England and Wales
  247. Effect of designation of successor to disbanded unit
  248. 3Paragraph 3
  249. Exclusion of charitable property from paragraph 3
  250. 4Paragraph 4
  251. 5Paragraph 5
  252. Application of property otherwise than under paragraph 3
  253. 6Paragraph 6
  254. Validity of certain acts by trustees
  255. 7Paragraph 7
  256. Saving for interests in property contingent on disbandment of unit
  257. 8Paragraph 8
  258. Part III: Succession to charitable property: Scotland
  259. Effect of designation of successor to disbanded unit
  260. 9Paragraph 9
  261. Exclusion of charitable property from paragraph 9
  262. 10Paragraph 10
  263. 11Paragraph 11
  264. Power of Lord Advocate to apply to Court of Session
  265. 12Paragraph 12
  266. Validity of certain acts
  267. 13Paragraph 13
  268. Saving for interests in property contingent on disbandment of unit
  269. 14Paragraph 14
  270. Part IV: Succession to charitable property: Northern Ireland
  271. Effect of designation of successor to disbanded unit
  272. 15Paragraph 15
  273. Exclusion of charitable property from paragraph 15
  274. 16Paragraph 16
  275. 17Paragraph 17
  276. Application of property otherwise than under paragraph 15
  277. 18Paragraph 18
  278. Validity of certain acts by trustees
  279. 19Paragraph 19
  280. Saving for interests in property contingent on disbandment of unit
  281. 20Paragraph 20
  282. Schedule 6
  283. 1Paragraph 1
  284. 2Paragraph 2
  285. 3Paragraph 3
  286. 4Paragraph 4
  287. 5Paragraph 5
  288. Schedule 7: Postponement of transfer to the reserve or discharge from the regular services
  289. The Army Repealed
  290. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  291. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  292. The Royal Marines Repealed
  293. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  294. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  295. The Royal Air Force Repealed
  296. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  297. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  298. The Royal Navy Repealed
  299. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  300. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  301. Schedule 8: Transitory and transitional provisions
  302. Existing members of the reserve forces
  303. 1Paragraph 1
  304. Royal Fleet Reserve
  305. 2Paragraph 2
  306. 3Paragraph 3
  307. The special class of the Royal Fleet Reserve
  308. 4Paragraph 4
  309. 5Paragraph 5
  310. Home Service Force
  311. 6Paragraph 6
  312. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
  313. 7Paragraph 7
  314. Reserves of Officers
  315. 8Paragraph 8
  316. 9Paragraph 9
  317. Training of existing members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
  318. 10Paragraph 10
  319. Effect of transfers under this Schedule
  320. 11Paragraph 11
  321. Parliamentary control
  322. 12Paragraph 12
  323. Schedule 9: Application of Act to members of transitional classes
  324. Part I: The original transitional class of members of the reserve forces
  325. 1Paragraph 1
  326. 2Paragraph 2
  327. 3Paragraph 3
  328. 4Paragraph 4
  329. 5Paragraph 5
  330. Part II: Application of Act to members of the original transitional class
  331. 6Paragraph 6
  332. 7Paragraph 7
  333. 8Paragraph 8
  334. 9Paragraph 9
  335. 10Paragraph 10
  336. 11Paragraph 11
  337. 12Paragraph 12
  338. 12AParagraph 12A
  339. 13Paragraph 13
  340. 14Paragraph 14
  341. 15Paragraph 15
  342. 16Paragraph 16
  343. 17Paragraph 17
  344. 18Paragraph 18
  345. 19Paragraph 19
  346. 20Paragraph 20
  347. 21Paragraph 21
  348. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  349. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  350. 24Paragraph 24
  351. Part 3: The second transitional class of members of the reserve forces
  352. 25Paragraph 25
  353. 26Paragraph 26
  354. 27Paragraph 27
  355. 28Paragraph 28
  356. Part 4: Application of Act to members of the second transitional class
  357. 29Paragraph 29
  358. 30Paragraph 30
  359. 31Paragraph 31
  360. 32Paragraph 32
  361. 33Paragraph 33
  362. Schedule 10: Minor and consequential amendments
  363. Army Act 1955 (c.18)
  364. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  365. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  366. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  367. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  368. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  369. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  370. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  371. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  372. Air Force Act 1955 (c.19)
  373. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  374. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  375. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  376. Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c.53)
  377. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  378. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  379. Reserve Forces Act 1966 (c.30): old references to RMFVR
  380. 14Paragraph 14
  381. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c.24)
  382. 15Paragraph 15
  383. Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c.25)
  384. 16Paragraph 16
  385. Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 (c.44)
  386. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  387. Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (c.43)
  388. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  389. Reserve Forces Act 1982 (c.14): old references to TAVR
  390. 19Paragraph 19
  391. Wages Act 1986 (c.48)
  392. 20Paragraph 20
  393. Wages (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 (S.I. 1988/796 (N.I.7))
  394. 21Paragraph 21
  395. Official Secrets Act 1989 (c.6)
  396. 22Paragraph 22
  397. Army Act 1992 (c.39)
  398. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  399. Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c.52)
  400. 24Paragraph 24
  401. Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992 (c.53)
  402. 25Paragraph 25
  403. Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 (c.8)
  404. 26Paragraph 26
  405. Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/2668 (N.I.11))
  406. 27Paragraph 27
  407. Schedule 11: Repeals