Military covenant

The armed forces bill will codify the military covenant in law for the first time.

David Cameron announced the move after initially making a promise to Royal Navy personnel aboard HMS Ark Royal last year.

The covenant is the 'deal' between members of the armed forces and the rest of British society.

In return for service personnel laying their lives on the line, they and their families should be looked after - whether they are injured or killed in action, or otherwise.

Until now the covenant has not been put on a statutory footing, but intense strain on the armed forces in recent years - especially during the period when British soldiers were serving overseas in both Iraq and Afghanistan - has helped increase pressure on politicians to change that.