The National Security Strategy

National Security Strategy (Joint Committee) Open Inquiry
Opened: 17 Jun 2025 Parliament page
The Government published a new National Security Strategy (NSS) on 24 June 2025. The NSS reviews the risks facing the UK and sets out plans to address them, structured under three themes: security at home, strength abroad, and sovereign and asymmetric capabilities. The Committee is seeking views on how well … Read more
21 Recommendations
16 Conclusions
1 Report
7 Oral sessions
7 Letters
7 Events
Activity timeline 16 events
8 Sep
2026
Correspondence
24 Jun
2026
Report published
24 Jun
2026
Correspondence
27 Mar
2026
Report published
16 Mar
2026
Correspondence
26 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
26 Jan
2026
Correspondence
17 Nov
2025
Oral evidence
3 Nov
2025
Oral evidence
28 Oct
2025
Correspondence
20 Oct
2025
Oral evidence
13 Oct
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 7 sessions
26 Jan 2026
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Dan Jarvis · Home Office Matthew Collins · Cabinet Office Rt Hon Darren Jones MP · Cabinet Office
17 Nov 2025
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Pillar 3
Air Commodore (retd) Blythe Crawford CBE · Tiberius Aerospace Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Haydn Gaukroger OBE · Syos Aerospace Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein CBE · City St George’s, University of London Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt · Jesus College, University of Oxford Sophia Gaston · AUKUS Industry Forum
3 Nov 2025
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China
Isabel Hilton OBE Jonathan Hall KC · Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation Lord Sumption OBE PC, FSA, FRHistS Nigel Inkster CMG · MI6 The Rt Hon. the Lord Patten of Barnes KG CH
20 Oct 2025
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Asoke Mukerji Dr Marion Messmer Rose Gottemoeller · North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Will Todman · Middle East Program, CSIS
13 Oct 2025
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The NSS - Pillar 1 (Security at home)
Brigadier General Eero Rebo · Embassy of Estonia Captain (Navy) Juha Ravanti · Embassy of Finland Lisa Hollins · Voluntary & Community Sector Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP) Lord Toby Harris · National Preparedness Commission Steve Vincent · West Midlands Local Resilience Forum
14 Jul 2025
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The National Security Strategy
Matthew Collins · Cabinet Office Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP · Cabinet Office
23 Jun 2025
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The National Security Strategy
Grace Cassy · CyLon Ventures Lord Peter Ricketts GCMG GCVO · Lords European Affairs Committee Professor Michael Clarke · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Rachel Ellehuus · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report – The National Security Strategy HC 1045 27 Mar 2026 37 Response document linked
Recommendations & Conclusions
37 results
1 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government must balance transparency with the public about the reality of threats the UK...
The Government must balance transparency with the public about the reality of threats the UK faces with not causing alarm and making sensitive information unnecessarily accessible to adversaries. However, there is a sense among industry stakeholders and civil society organisations … Read more
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2 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government must reconsider how it discusses security challenges, and avoid being unduly opaque.
The Government must reconsider how it discusses security challenges, and avoid being unduly opaque. The Government should provide annual progress updates to this Committee on commitments in the National Security Strategy and in other related strategies such as the Resilience … Read more
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3 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government should also review its consultation and engagement approach with industry stakeholders, civil society...
The Government should also review its consultation and engagement approach with industry stakeholders, civil society and the wider public on matters of national security. (Recommendation, Paragraph 23)
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4 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
Soft power is a crucial source of UK influence and security abroad.
Soft power is a crucial source of UK influence and security abroad. Its erosion would have direct security consequences, most clearly in Africa, where Russia and China are increasingly filling the space left by the withdrawal of the soft power … Read more
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5 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government should ensure it has a full and robust assessment of the national security...
The Government should ensure it has a full and robust assessment of the national security risks of reducing the Official Development Assistance budget, resisting further cuts that could have a damaging effect for UK strategic interests. We note the International … Read more
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6 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
The lack of clarity over which departments are responsible for which areas of national security...
The lack of clarity over which departments are responsible for which areas of national security policy hampers the possibility for external scrutiny and challenge of national security policy delivery. Our opinion was further solidified when the Department for Science, Innovation … Read more
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7 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government must clarify how follow-up and oversight of Lead Government Departments responsible for delivering...
The Government must clarify how follow-up and oversight of Lead Government Departments responsible for delivering the commitments in the National Security Strategy (NSS) will be sustained over time. This should involve accountability mechanisms at fixed points, for example through regular … Read more
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8 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
All Ministers with responsibility for delivery of aspects of the National Security Strategy should make...
All Ministers with responsibility for delivery of aspects of the National Security Strategy should make themselves available for scrutiny by this Committee at regular intervals, and as requested, to ensure proper parliamentary accountability. (Recommendation, Paragraph 42) Read more
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9 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
Hitting the target to spend 1.5% of GDP on resilience and security by 2027 will...
Hitting the target to spend 1.5% of GDP on resilience and security by 2027 will be a limited achievement if it does not create any additional resilience capability for the UK beyond what was already allocated in the 2025 Spending … Read more
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10 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government must provide greater clarity on its plans to develop additional resilience capabilities beyond...
The Government must provide greater clarity on its plans to develop additional resilience capabilities beyond 2027, and ensure that the 1.5% target spend on security and resilience prioritises investment in systems that can help build long-term resilience, in addition to … Read more
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11 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
We welcome the greater use of Armed Forces Reserves in protecting Critical National Infrastructure (CNI),...
We welcome the greater use of Armed Forces Reserves in protecting Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), but necessary detail on these plans is lacking. Private sector organisations with responsibility for the protection of CNI also need a clearer steer on what … Read more
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12 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government must accelerate its plans for improving the size and state of the reserves,...
The Government must accelerate its plans for improving the size and state of the reserves, and provide more detail for its plans to involve the reserves in the protection of Critical National Infrastructure. This should include planning for their use … Read more
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13 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government should clarify what will change for private sector Critical National Infrastructure operators as...
The Government should clarify what will change for private sector Critical National Infrastructure operators as a result of the NSS and provisions of the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill. It should then work with those operators … Read more
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14 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
While we welcome ambitions to scrutinise resilience plans through the UK Resilience Academy, it is...
While we welcome ambitions to scrutinise resilience plans through the UK Resilience Academy, it is unclear at this stage how effective its scrutiny will be. How far its scrutiny remit will stretch, and whether this will include reviewing preparedness plans … Read more
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15 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government should ensure that the UK Resilience Academy is reviewing preparedness plans specifically in...
The Government should ensure that the UK Resilience Academy is reviewing preparedness plans specifically in relation to the estimated impacts of Reasonable Worst Case Scenarios as set out in the National Risk Register, including the possibility of direct threat to … Read more
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16 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government should also set out, in response to this report, how it will strengthen...
The Government should also set out, in response to this report, how it will strengthen institutional links between the UK Resilience Academy (UKRA) and central government, including by: ○ enabling the UKRA to report into Cabinet Office-led exercises to refresh … Read more
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17 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government has identified the need for a whole-of-society approach to security and resilience through...
The Government has identified the need for a whole-of-society approach to security and resilience through a national conversation, but it is not evident that this message is getting through to the public. There is a long way to go to … Read more
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18 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government must provide more detail on what the national conversation on security and resilience...
The Government must provide more detail on what the national conversation on security and resilience will look like, including who will be leading it and how it will ensure oversight between different Government departments responsible for its delivery. As part … Read more
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19 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
Global and UK security is poorly served by the increasing tensions brought about by great...
Global and UK security is poorly served by the increasing tensions brought about by great power competition between the United States and China. If this process continues to accelerate, the economic shock costs of military confrontation will go down, making … Read more
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20 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The UK must be prepared to take on more of the cost for its and...
The UK must be prepared to take on more of the cost for its and Europe’s security through investing in partnerships and multilateral dialogues with other ‘middle powers’, for example Canada, Australia and India, to avoid being squeezed by great … Read more
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21 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government has identified Russia as the primary threat to the UK’s national security and...
The Government has identified Russia as the primary threat to the UK’s national security and continues to do good work to deter further Russian aggression. The Committee commends the Government for its continued military and financial assistance for Ukraine and … Read more
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22 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
As long as Russia continues its war in Ukraine, and acts of hybrid aggression against...
As long as Russia continues its war in Ukraine, and acts of hybrid aggression against the UK and its European allies, the Government must ensure that momentum in imposing ever greater costs on Russia is maintained. The UK must continue … Read more
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23 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
China poses a clear long-term national security threat to the UK—both directly through its malicious...
China poses a clear long-term national security threat to the UK—both directly through its malicious targeting of UK interests, and indirectly through its support to Russia over the Ukraine conflict. We have concerns that the Government is not striking the … Read more
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24 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government must articulate more clearly how it will balance extensive security and supply chain...
The Government must articulate more clearly how it will balance extensive security and supply chain risks with its desire for closer economic ties with China. It should, for example, be more proactive in raising the issue of Beijing’s ongoing support … Read more
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25 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
The UK has strategic dependencies on the United States for core capabilities in nuclear, intelligence...
The UK has strategic dependencies on the United States for core capabilities in nuclear, intelligence and conventional defence. While it is positive that the Government has recognised the need for the UK to prepare for a future where the United … Read more
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26 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
As well as continuing its strategic collaboration with the United States where practical, the Government...
As well as continuing its strategic collaboration with the United States where practical, the Government must also develop a clear plan, along with other European allies, for a transition towards greater European leadership of NATO. Preparing for a ‘worst-case scenario’ … Read more
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27 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government should also pursue this contingency through continuing to develop strategic partnerships with non-NATO...
The Government should also pursue this contingency through continuing to develop strategic partnerships with non-NATO allies in other parts of the world. In addition to working to shore up European NATO’s capabilities, the UK should plan to move away from … Read more
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28 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
We welcome the Government’s efforts to diversify partnerships, illustrated by deepening trade and security collaboration...
We welcome the Government’s efforts to diversify partnerships, illustrated by deepening trade and security collaboration with India and engagements with Gulf countries. This work is crucial both to ensuring the UK can draw on breadth and depth in its partnerships … Read more
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29 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government should continue to ensure that sensible trade-offs are made between economic growth and...
The Government should continue to ensure that sensible trade-offs are made between economic growth and national security objectives as it pursues new strategic relationships and bolsters existing ones. The scale of this work should be expanded, and its speed accelerated. … Read more
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30 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
A credible, sustainable and independent UK nuclear deterrent is integral to UK national security, and...
A credible, sustainable and independent UK nuclear deterrent is integral to UK national security, and as a buffer against allied proliferation in an era of fast-changing nuclear risks. (Conclusion, Paragraph 135)
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31 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government would benefit from having a more open public conversation about nuclear threats, spending...
The Government would benefit from having a more open public conversation about nuclear threats, spending choices and future nuclear security programmes. It should set out how it plans to extend UK-France collaboration on nuclear security. (Recommendation, Paragraph 136) 66 Pillar … Read more
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32 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
The National Security Strategy is clear that sovereignty over certain national security capabilities, including nuclear,...
The National Security Strategy is clear that sovereignty over certain national security capabilities, including nuclear, emerging technologies, shipbuilding and steelmaking, is important. However, beyond this, there is no clear definition of how the Government defines what it considers to be … Read more
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33 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
We appreciate that the definition of sovereignty will differ by sector and by degree.
We appreciate that the definition of sovereignty will differ by sector and by degree. However, the general lack of clarity on definitions and objectives complicates research and development planning and investment. The UK has a strong base of talent and … Read more
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34 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Government should provide a clear, written definition of what a sovereign capability is, including...
The Government should provide a clear, written definition of what a sovereign capability is, including different levels of sovereignty. The Government should also outline which specific existing and emerging technologies it is seeking to develop, and to what level of … Read more
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35 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
Additionally, the Government should set out the order of priorities for the different sovereign capabilities...
Additionally, the Government should set out the order of priorities for the different sovereign capabilities it intends to develop. The Defence Investment Plan would be a useful place for this, as a signal to industry. (Recommendation, Paragraph 154)
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36 Conclusion
4th Report – The National Security…
Industry lacks an adequate signal from Government on the allocation of spending across the defence,...
Industry lacks an adequate signal from Government on the allocation of spending across the defence, security and resilience sectors. This impacts the ability to plan research and development spending in a way that aligns with Government objectives, and prioritises the … Read more
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37 Recommendation
4th Report – The National Security…
The Defence Investment Plan must be completed and published as soon as possible.
The Defence Investment Plan must be completed and published as soon as possible. Within the Plan, the Government should provide further detail on the funding mechanisms it will use to support firms as it seeks to revitalise 67 the UK’s … Read more
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Correspondence 7 letters
8 Sep 2026 To committee Letter from the Security Minister relating to the Government response to the NSS report, dated 25 August 2026
Parliament page
24 Jun 2026 From committee Letter to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, relating to the Government's response to the Committee's report on The National Security Strategy, dated 23 June 2026
Parliament page
16 Mar 2026 To committee Response from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster relating to the NSS inquiry and NSC agendas, dated 11 February 2026
Parliament page
26 Jan 2026 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster relating to funding commitments in the National Security Strategy, and the response, dated 14 January 2026
Parliament page
28 Oct 2025 To committee Letter from Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government relating to the planning application for the Chinese Embassy, dated 21 October 2025
Parliament page
8 Sep 2025 Correspondence from Matt Collins, Deputy National Security Adviser following the oral evidence session on 14 July on The National Security Strategy, dated 15 August 2025
Parliament page
23 Jun 2025 Correspondence from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster relating to the forthcoming National Security Strategy, dated 19 June 2025
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