text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Armed Forces Bill - Clause 8 - Armed Forces Covenant
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  @ MP voted aye to require central government departments to have due regard to the special situation of current or former members of the armed services when carrying out certain functions relating to housing, education and health.
  
  @ MP voted no not to require central government departments to have due regard to the special situation of current or former members of the armed services when carrying out certain functions relating to housing, education and health.
  
  The majority of MPs voted not to require central government departments to have due regard to the special situation of current or former members of the armed services when carrying out certain functions relating to housing, education and health.  
  
  MPs were considering the Bill[1][2][3]
  
  The amendment rejected in this vote was
  
  : Amendment 1, in clause 8, page 9, line 19, at end insertâ
  
  :â(aa) a relevant government department;â
  
  The rejected amendment was accompanied by the following explanatory note from its proposer:
  
  :This amendment, with amendments 2, 3 and 4, would place the same legal responsibility to have âdue regardâ to the Armed Forces Covenant on central government and the devolved administrations as the Bill currently requires of local authorities and other public bodies.
  
  The rejected amendment would have impacted Clause 8 of the Bill which was titled: ''Armed forces covenant'' and provided for an amendment to the the Armed Forces Act 2006 introducing a new section titled: ''Due regard to principles: England'' which began:
  
  :In exercising in relation to England a relevant function, a person or body specified in subsection (3) must have due regard toâ
  :(a) the unique obligations of, and sacrifices made by, the armed forces,
  :(b) the principle that it is desirable to remove disadvantages arising for service people from membership, or former membership, of the armed forces, and
  :(c) the principle that special provision for service people may be justified by the effects on such people of membership, or former membership, of the armed forces.
  
  The relevant bodies, and functions, were very specifically set out. The functions related only to housing, education and health. 
  
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  * [1] [https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/2822 Parliament's webpage on the  Armed Forces Act 2021], Parliament.uk
  * [2] [https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/41451/documents/194 ], Parliament.uk Armed Forces Bill as introduced in the House of Commons on 12 May 2021 ], Parliament.uk
  * [3] [https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/41452/documents/195 Explanatory notes to the Armed Forces Bill as introduced in the House of Commons on 12 May 2021 ], Parliament.uk
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  