Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 36
36
Accepted in Part
Require Government to explain readiness data classification and consult committees on future decisions.
Recommendation
We also recommend that the Government explain why previously unclassified information about readiness is no longer published, recognise the reduction in public and parliamentary accountability that this has brought about, and seek to rectify the situation. In future, when a decision is being considered to classify previously available information, we recommend that the Government should consult the relevant House of Commons Select Committee before that decision is made. Ready for War? 17 3 Readiness of the UK Armed Forces Operational readiness
Government Response Summary
The government explains the historical evolution and classification of Defence Planning Assumptions (DPAs) and has released a version of the 2023 DPAs to enhance transparency. However, it does not commit to consulting select committees before classifying previously available information in the future.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
We note the Committee’s recommendation to explain why previously unclassified information about readiness is no longer published. Since 1998, the Defence Planning Assumptions (DPAs) have continued to evolve. During the Strategic Defence Review in July 1998, the DPAs included Defence Missions, Military Tasks, definitions of small, medium, large, and full-scale operations, alongside concurrency sets were published. In 2005, the DPAs were Confidential (an obsolete classification–not for public release) and in 2015’s Defence review they are not referenced explicitly, instead ‘Armed Forces Missions’ are listed. Classified DPAs were subsequently issued in Defence Strategic Direction (DSD) in 2016. This evolution of DPAs into a classified document happened as they are intended to describe in detail the principal assumptions upon which the Force is designed, trained, and resourced. We are sure that the Committee would agree that we must protect this information given the detail and specificity it provides. We are now seeking to enhance the Department’s transparency. We have released a version of the 2023 DPAs as shown above. The MOD is remains focussed on continuously looking to further upskill and improve on how we undertake our Parliamentary and Legislative business to the highest standard–a priority for both our Perm Secs under the good to great campaign–and how we are disclosing information into the public domain is very much part of that work. In addition, the recent publication of Defence’s Drone Strategy, that outlined the UK’s approach to Defence’s Uncrewed Systems, highlights an example of the Government’s ambition to be more open.