Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 28
28
Accepted
Ministry of Defence's slow progress threatens UK's Article 3 defence responsibilities.
Conclusion
We question the Ministry of Defence’s ability to protect the UK and the Overseas Territories from crisis or conflict. This means the UK is not fulfilling its Article 3 responsibilities—a fact recognised by Government. Despite this recognition from Government (which has pledged to be ‘NATO First’), measures to remediate seem to be moving at a glacial pace—we are deeply concerned by reports that the UK has no Article 3 national plan and that the work on the Home Defence Programme is still ongoing, a year after it was originally due to be complete. (Conclusion, Paragraph 121)
Government Response Summary
The government clarifies that the Home Defence Programme (HDP) is an enduring endeavour, not a single deliverable, and commits to providing further details to the Committee; it also states the MOD is refreshing military plans and protection plans for Overseas Territories, and has taken steps to improve readiness.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The HDP, led by the Cabinet Office, is not a single deliverable with a set end date, but rather an enduring endeavour that will ensure coordination across departments and agencies in the event of major conflict impacting the UK. The Government will provide the Committee with further details on the HDP separately in due course or at the Committee’s further request. The MOD recognises that our national resilience and the collective capacity of the NATO Alliance must be strengthened to reduce vulnerabilities, deter conflict, and meet our Article 3 obligations. There has been a lot of focus on Article 5 of the NATO Treaty and how we will come to the aid of others if attacked. The SDR makes very clear that we should have an equal focus on Article 3 and how we ensure our own homeland defence. The MOD plays a key role in the HDP which supports the Government’s delivery of NATO’s seven baseline requirements. As set out in the National Security Strategy and the Resilience Action Plan, this coordinates civil and military preparations across the whole of Government to ensure that all sectors are prepared for and able to respond to the most catastrophic risks. Defence is refreshing our military plans which will place national resilience, our commitment to the NATO Alliance, and our sovereign nuclear deterrent front and centre. These refreshed plans will be consistent with the Government’s NATO First approach, helping to fulfil our responsibilities under Article 3 of the Washington Treaty to protect our homeland. Plans for the protection of Overseas Territories will also be refreshed. Since the election, we have taken steps to improve our readiness and reorganise to better meet our NATO Force Model commitments. Our Agile Stance Campaign Plan and work under the HDP is developing the Reserves’ contribution to both warfighting and homeland protection.