Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 33
33
Rejected
Create a Minister of Homeland Security to deliver defence and resilience programmes.
Recommendation
We reiterate our previous recommendation for the creation of a Minister of Homeland Security who should be responsible for delivery of the Home Defence Programme alongside the Resilience Action Plan and a public engagement strategy. (Recommendation, Paragraph 126) 61
Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation, stating that national security is handled by existing ministerial roles (Chief Secretary to the PM and Security Minister) across departments, which it deems the most efficient structure.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
National security is the first priority of the Government. Homeland security is delivered by a number of government departments. Overall responsibility for national resilience, national security and cross-government coordination sits with the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office. These responsibilities are reflected in the work of the COBR Directorate who lead coordination of national preparedness and resilience and in the cross- Government nature of the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme. In addition, the Security Minister’s role is split across the Cabinet Office and the Home Office, the purpose of which is to improve coordination across Government on national security. This role has responsibility for homeland security issues, including counterterrorism and extremism, state threats, cyber security and crime, serious and organised crime, oversight of the National Crime Agency, anti-corruption, and economic crime. The Government’s priorities for these areas are detailed in the Resilience Action Plan and the National Security Strategy. The Government continues to judge that the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and Security Minister remain suitable leads for these matters and that this is the most efficient for delivery and coordination of the HDP, the RAP, and a public engagement strategy.