Today, the Joint Committee on the National Security
Strategy (JCNSS) publishes the Government Response to the Report
on the National Security Capability Review (NSCR).
The July 2017 NSCR was partly prompted by the flaws in the
2015 National Security Strategy (NSS) and Strategic Defence and
Security Review (SDSR), the Committee reported in March
2018.
While there were good reasons to conduct a refresh of
priorities, the format was flawed and resulted in a ‘halfway
house’ Review which failed to satisfy questions about spending
commitments for defence or answer concerns about Government
preparedness in light of increased security challenges facing the
UK. The importance of a robust and coherent process in setting
and delivering national security strategy was clear, said the
Report.
Members also said there was insufficient parliamentary
oversight of the National Security Adviser and called on
Government to provide evidence of the NSC’s oversight of both the
NSCR and the Modernising Defence Programme (MDP), first announced
in January.
However, today’s Government Response reveals the Government
has not decided when the next NSS and SDSR will take place. A
published Report on the progress of the MDP was expected before
the Summer 2018 Recess, but instead, the Secretary of State for
Defence, MP, offered a written
statement to the House.
The Chair of the Joint Committee on the National Security
Strategy, , said:
“Today’s Government Response sidesteps many of the
questions in our Report. We are not reassured that the Government
gets our message about the importance of establishing a robust
and coherent process in setting national security
strategy.
“Our Reports have repeatedly criticised the
Government’s commitment to transparency - with our Committee and
to the public. Ministers have a second opportunity to assuage our
concerns when it ultimately publishes its report on the
Modernising Defence Programme. We look forward to seeing
it.”
