Commentary on provisions of Act Section 1: Duration of AFA 2006
Since the Bill of Rights 1688, the legislation making the provision necessary for the army to exist as a disciplined force (and, more recently, the legislation for the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force) has required regular renewal by Act of Parliament.
	As originally drafted, section 382 of AFA 2006 provided that the Act would expire one year after it received Royal Assent (which it did on 8 November 2006), unless renewed by Order in Council approved by each House of Parliament. It provided that AFA 2006 could be continued by such an Order for up to a year at a time, but not beyond the end of 2011. Section 1 of the Armed Forces Act 2011 substituted a new section 382, which provides that AFA 2006 will expire a year after the 2011 Act was passed, unless renewed by Order in Council approved by each House of Parliament. It provides that AFA 2006 may be continued by Order in Council for up to a year at a time, but not beyond the end of 2016.
	The 2011 Act was passed on 3 November 2011. The Armed Forces Act (Continuation) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1766) provided for the continuation of AFA 2006 for a period of 12 months so that, instead of expiring at the end of 2 November 2015, it would expire at the end of 2 November 2016.
	Section 1 substitutes a new section 382, which provides for the continuation of AFA 2006. It also repeals section 1 of the Armed Forces Act 2011, which inserted the current section 382 into AFA 2006.