Recommendation 34

We agree with Professor John Bew, who led the Integrated Review for the Prime Minister’s Office, that Parliament has a crucial role to play as a forum for strategic debate on national security. To that end, we recommend that the Government commits to an annual report to Parliament on national security and the Integrated Review, including notable updates to the trends outlined in the document, an update on the overall threat and opportunity picture, and progress against the Government’s national security objectives. Recognising the Committee’s proper role in scrutinising the NSC and its products, we also call on the Government to return to a more open relationship. To support our vital scrutiny work, we ask that the Government submits to us annually (in confidence, if needed): a) Priority Integrated Review deliverables and progress against them; b) NSC and NSM agendas, showing agenda items, paper titles and the name of the department or agency submitting them; c) Attendees at each NSC and NSM meeting; d) Reasons for any meeting cancellation or delays; e) An update on external engagement (e.g. with policy experts) throughout the year, to inform NSC and NSM papers; and The UK’s national security machinery 67 f) An update on the work of the College for National Security, if it is established, detailing the training provided and the numbers of participants, broken down by department, agency and type of external organisation. (Paragraph 143) The NSC and Afghanistan