Select committee: Defence Committee
Recommendation 10
In Search of Strategy — The 2020 Integrated Review
Published 13 Aug 2020
Paragraph 74
Addressed to Ministry of Defence
Defence Committee The Integrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy Review All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
It remains to be seen whether the forthcoming Review will include an update to the National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) or whether a new approach will emerge. Whether or not the Review uses the terminology of the NSRA, we suggest that if this aspect of the Review is to provide a useful guide to inform the UK’s defence posture, it should adhere to the following principles: In Search of Strategy — The 2020 Integrated Review 57 Input Output Review • Draws on a wide • Establishes broad • Subject to robust range of sources threat and risk challenge from categories within and outside • Considers the Government capability and • Distinguishes intent of the UK’s between short term • Communicated adversaries and allies and long-term risks to Parliament and and threats the public in a way • Considers that balances the the impact and • Includes a need for secrecy threats posed by clear and realistic with the benefits of new and emerging prioritisation transparency technologies • Recognises the drivers of conflict and instability • Takes account of the changing character of warfare
From: Defence Committee, In Search of Strategy — The 2020 Integrated Review (HC 165), paragraph 74, 13 August 2020
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 22 October 2020 (deadline 13 October 2020).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response welcomes the Committee's inquiry and says the Integrated Review is addressing or will address most of the issues raised, while saying that the Comprehensive Spending Review will determine funding.
- On challenge to assumptions, the government states that it "agrees with the Committee that appropriate challenge is critical to delivering the Integrated Review", and says external challenge is being invited, including through targeted workshops.
- On defence funding, it says it remains committed to spending at least 2% of GDP, which should be seen as "a floor and not a ceiling", while adding that "we should not fixate on percentages".
- On a long-term settlement, the government says the Comprehensive Spending Review "will provide a multiyear financial settlement for Defence" and that its position on that Review "has not changed".
- On procurement, it says decisions on adapting existing policies will be based on investment decisions made as part of the Integrated Review, and it looks forward to updating the Committee "in due course".