Select Committee · National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)

The National Security Strategy

Status: Open Opened: 17 Jun 2025 21 recommendations 16 conclusions 1 report

The Government published a new National Security Strategy (NSS) on 24 June 2025. The NSS reviews the risks facing the UK and sets out plans to address them, structured under three themes: security at home, strength abroad, and sovereign and asymmetric capabilities. The Committee is seeking views on how well the NSS addresses the range … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report – The National Security Strategy HC 1045 27 Mar 2026 37 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
12 Recommendation 4th Report – The National Security Stra… Not Addressed

The Government must accelerate its plans for improving the size and state of the reserves,...

The Government must accelerate its plans for improving the size and state of the reserves, and provide more detail for its plans to involve the reserves in the protection of Critical National Infrastructure. This should include planning for their use to replace uniformed specialists who have been moved to frontline … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response largely discusses cyber resilience for Critical National Infrastructure. While it mentions amending the Reserve Forces Act in 2026, it provides no detail on accelerating plans for improving the size and state of the reserves or their specific involvement in CNI protection as …
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Cabinet Office
24 Recommendation 4th Report – The National Security Stra… Not Addressed

The Government must articulate more clearly how it will balance extensive security and supply chain...

The Government must articulate more clearly how it will balance extensive security and supply chain risks with its desire for closer economic ties with China. It should, for example, be more proactive in raising the issue of Beijing’s ongoing support for Moscow continuing to pursue its war in Ukraine. Additionally, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government outlined its existing strategic approach to China, balancing threats and opportunities, and described current actions to challenge risks and engage on issues like Russia's war. However, it did not commit to articulating its balancing act more clearly or publishing detailed national security statements …
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Cabinet Office

Oral evidence sessions

7 sessions
Date Witnesses
26 Jan 2026 Dan Jarvis · Home Office, Matthew Collins · Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Darren Jones MP · Cabinet Office View ↗
17 Nov 2025 Air Commodore (retd) Blythe Crawford CBE · Tiberius Aerospace, Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Haydn Gaukroger OBE · Syos Aerospace, Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein CBE · City St George’s, University of London, Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt · Jesus College, University of Oxford, Sophia Gaston · AUKUS Industry Forum View ↗
3 Nov 2025 Isabel Hilton OBE, Jonathan Hall KC · Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, Lord Sumption OBE PC, FSA, FRHistS, Nigel Inkster CMG · MI6, The Rt Hon. the Lord Patten of Barnes KG CH View ↗
20 Oct 2025 Asoke Mukerji, Dr Marion Messmer, Rose Gottemoeller · North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Will Todman · Middle East Program, CSIS View ↗
13 Oct 2025 Brigadier General Eero Rebo · Embassy of Estonia, Captain (Navy) Juha Ravanti · Embassy of Finland, Lisa Hollins · Voluntary & Community Sector Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP), Lord Toby Harris · National Preparedness Commission, Steve Vincent · West Midlands Local Resilience Forum View ↗
14 Jul 2025 Matthew Collins · Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP · Cabinet Office View ↗
23 Jun 2025 Grace Cassy · CyLon Ventures, Lord Peter Ricketts GCMG GCVO · Lords European Affairs Committee, Professor Michael Clarke · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Rachel Ellehuus · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) View ↗

Who gave evidence

27 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Matthew Collins · Deputy National Security Adviser Cabinet Office 2
Air Commodore (retd) Blythe Crawford CBE · Former Commandant of the Air and Space Warfare Ce… Tiberius Aerospace 1
Asoke Mukerji 1
Brigadier General Eero Rebo · Defence Attaché Embassy of Estonia 1
Captain (Navy) Juha Ravanti · Finnish Defence Attaché for UK and Ireland Embassy of Finland 1
Dan Jarvis · Minister for Security Home Office 1
Dr Marion Messmer 1
Grace Cassy CyLon Ventures 1
Isabel Hilton OBE 1
Jonathan Hall KC · Independent Reviewer Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation 1
Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Haydn Gaukroger OBE · Head of Capability Development Syos Aerospace 1
Lisa Hollins · Co-Chair Voluntary & Community Sector Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP) 1
Lord Peter Ricketts GCMG GCVO · Chair Lords European Affairs Committee 1
Lord Sumption OBE PC, FSA, FRHistS 1
Lord Toby Harris · Chair National Preparedness Commission 1
Nigel Inkster CMG · Former Assistant Chief and Director of Operations… MI6 1
Professor Michael Clarke · Distinguished Fellow Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) 1
Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein CBE · Former Chief Scientific Adviser for National Secu… City St George’s, University of London 1
Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt · Professorial Research Fellow in Computer Science … Jesus College, University of Oxford 1
Rachel Ellehuus Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) 1
Rose Gottemoeller North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 1
Rt Hon Darren Jones MP · Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chancel… Cabinet Office 1
Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP · Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister… Cabinet Office 1
Sophia Gaston · Visiting Fellow in the Department of War Studies,… AUKUS Industry Forum 1
Steve Vincent · Strategic Manager West Midlands Local Resilience Forum 1
The Rt Hon. the Lord Patten of Barnes KG CH 1
Will Todman · Deputy Director and Senior fellow Middle East Program, CSIS 1

Correspondence

6 letters
DateDirectionTitle
24 Jun 2026 From cttee Letter to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, relating to the Government'…
16 Mar 2026 To cttee Response from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster relating to the NSS inqu…
26 Jan 2026 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Chancellor …
28 Oct 2025 To cttee Letter from Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government re…
8 Sep 2025 Correspondence from Matt Collins, Deputy National Security Adviser following th…
23 Jun 2025 Correspondence from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster relating to the fo…