Select Committee · Defence Committee

Defending Global Britain in a Competitive Age

Status: Closed Opened: 17 Mar 2021 Closed: 6 Dec 2022 7 recommendations 16 conclusions 1 report

The Committee is examining the defence task and capability commitments in the Integrated Review, the Defence in a Competitive Age paper and the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy. The Committee intends to evaluate how effective the commitments will be in responding to the threats to the UK and how the Government will implement those commitments.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - The Integrated Review, Defence in a Competi… HC 180 28 Jul 2022 23 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
5 Conclusion Second Report - The Integrated Review, … Accepted

The Government needs to ensure that the public is aware of the link between the...

The Government needs to ensure that the public is aware of the link between the cost of living and global instability: the rises in energy and food prices are both directly attributable to the conflict in Ukraine. The Government needs to ensure that they are effectively communicating this to the …

Government response. The government states that the MOD has played a full part in the UK Government response in support of Ukraine, including supporting messaging on the link between the cost of living and global instability, through regular and transparent communication.
Ministry of Defence
10 Conclusion Second Report - The Integrated Review, … Accepted

We are further concerned by the use of the UK Armed Forces as a ‘backfill’,...

We are further concerned by the use of the UK Armed Forces as a ‘backfill’, employed to carry out civilian tasks by Departments which are seemingly unable to respond to crises themselves. This is compounded by the MOD’s failure to respond to the 18 recommendations made by the Reserves Review.

Government response. The MOD will only provide military support as a last resort and is in line with agreed contingency plans and arrangements to provide UK resilience and work is underway across Defence to transform systems, policies, and processes regarding reserve forces.
Ministry of Defence
16 Conclusion Second Report - The Integrated Review, … Accepted

Integration is key to the effective implementation of the Integrated Review and the Defence Command...

Integration is key to the effective implementation of the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Papers. It is clear that this requires a long-term commitment, with decisions consistently re-evaluated as progress is made. It further requires a cohesive, effective and dedicated Government which is able to work collaboratively towards a …

Government response. The government has adopted an approach to drive the IR's objectives within the existing core business of all relevant Departments, agencies and bodies and is upgrading its culture and capabilities to improve decision-making, performance and impact.
Ministry of Defence
17 Conclusion Second Report - The Integrated Review, … Accepted

If Afghanistan was intended to be an example of effective policy integration in action then...

If Afghanistan was intended to be an example of effective policy integration in action then it leaves a lot to be desired. It is even more worrying given that the NSC apparently gave the political direction required to bring together a ‘whole- of-systems’ approach. If the NSC set the appropriate …

Government response. The government states that UK policy on Afghanistan has been made across Government, co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office, working to Cabinet Ministers in the relevant Cabinet Sub-Committee.
Ministry of Defence
18 Recommendation Second Report - The Integrated Review, … Accepted

The Government should publish the actions agreed by each of the Departments as a result...

The Government should publish the actions agreed by each of the Departments as a result of the lessons learned exercises which examined the response to the Afghanistan crisis, together with a time frame for implementation.

Government response. The government states that it already outlined the lessons learned and exercises undertaken following the withdrawal from Afghanistan in its Official Response to the Foreign Affairs Committee’s report, published 29 July 2022, and the MOD publicly outlined its position to …
Ministry of Defence

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
30 Nov 2021 Sir Stephen Lovegrove, National Security Adviser View ↗
6 Jul 2021 Lt Gen (Retd) Ben Hodges · Center for European Policy Analysis View ↗
23 Jun 2021 Air Marshal Richard Knighton CB · Ministry of Defence, Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP · Ministry of Defence View ↗
20 Apr 2021 Paul Hough, defence business consultant, Professor John Louth, independent author and defence analyst View ↗
13 Apr 2021 Dr Sidharth Kaushal · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Rear Admiral Alex Burton, Former Commander, UK Maritime Forces (2016-2017) View ↗
23 Mar 2021 Field Marshal the Lord Richards of Herstmonceux GCB CBE DSO DL · Ministry of Defence, The Lord Houghton of Richmond GCB CBE DL · Ministry of Defence View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
18 Jan 2022 Letter dated 11th January responding to Chair regarding the Integrated Review, …