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Select Committee · Defence Committee

Defence in the Grey Zone

Status: Closed Opened: 18 Sep 2023 Closed: 14 Nov 2025 5 recommendations 9 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry was originally conducted during the 2019 Parliament and was interrupted by the 2024 general election. In November 2024 the re-established committee agreed to complete the inquiry. The grey zone can be defined as coercive activities that “…fall below perceived thresholds for military action and across areas of responsibility of different parts of the …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
5th Report - Defence in the Grey Zone HC 405 9 Jul 2025 14 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
4 Conclusion 5th Report - Defence in the Grey Zone Rejected

Joint Expeditionary Force requires credible deployable capabilities for effective grey zone threat combat.

The Joint Expeditionary Force’s freedom to operate independently should allow it to be more responsive and agile in combatting grey zone threats. But it can only do this if it possesses credible, deployable capabilities. Expanding membership of the JEF might also bring benefits. (Conclusion, Paragraph 44)

Government response. The government partially agreed, acknowledging the need for the JEF to have credible, deployable capabilities, but rejected the recommendation to expand JEF membership, instead highlighting the 'JEF+' mechanism for collaboration.
Ministry of Defence
12 Recommendation 5th Report - Defence in the Grey Zone Rejected

Ensure a dedicated Homeland Security Minister coordinates national preparedness and resilience efforts.

The Government should ensure there is a dedicated Homeland Security Minister to coordinate across central, regional and local Government, industry and wider society to rapidly enhance the UK’s national preparedness and resilience. (Recommendation, Paragraph 80)

Government response. The government rejects the recommendation for a dedicated Homeland Security Minister, stating that the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Security Minister are already suitable and efficient leads for national resilience and security matters.
Ministry of Defence

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
25 Mar 2025 Air Commodore Matt Bressani OBE · Ministry of Defence, Luke Pollard MP · Ministry of Defence, Paul Wyatt · Ministry of Defence View ↗
21 Jan 2025 Dr Margriet Drent · Ministry of Defence (The Netherlands), Sir Alex Younger KCMG · Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) View ↗
14 May 2024 Jānis Garisons · Latvian Ministry of Defence View ↗
13 May 2024 James Appathurai · NATO View ↗
23 Apr 2024 Elisabeth Braw · Atlantic Council, Professor Andrew Mumford · University of Nottingham View ↗