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
6 Letters
7 Events
Activity timeline 15 events
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
8 Sep
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 7 sessions
26 Jan 2026
View on parliament.uk
Dan Jarvis · Home Office Matthew Collins · Cabinet Office Rt Hon Darren Jones MP · Cabinet Office
17 Nov 2025
View on parliament.uk
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
View on parliament.uk
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
View on parliament.uk
Asoke Mukerji Dr Marion Messmer Rose Gottemoeller · North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Will Todman · Middle East Program, CSIS
13 Oct 2025
View on parliament.uk
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
View on parliament.uk
The National Security Strategy
Matthew Collins · Cabinet Office Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP · Cabinet Office
23 Jun 2025
View on parliament.uk
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 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
Clear
4 Conclusion Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government agreed on the vital role of soft power and described its ongoing efforts, including the establishment of the UK Soft Power Council and a refined ODA approach focused on stability and conflict prevention, while ensuring stable grant funding for key institutions.
Cabinet Office
View details
6 Conclusion Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government described its internal approach for accountability, assigning lead departments and offering to update the committee on progress. It supported the principle of ministerial accountability but reserved the right to determine which minister is best placed to attend.
Cabinet Office
View details
10 Recommendation Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government acknowledges the 1.5% NATO target for security and resilience spending, stating it expects to reach it by 2027 and will report spending lines to NATO shortly. However, it does not provide specific clarity on plans for developing additional resilience capabilities beyond 2027 or by the next NATO summit.
Cabinet Office
View details
19 Conclusion Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's conclusion that global security is challenged by increasing tensions, stating that it aligns with the National Security Strategy's acknowledgement of radical uncertainty and the need for statecraft to adapt.
Cabinet Office
View details
21 Conclusion Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government welcomes the committee's support for its work against the Russian threat and in aiding Ukraine. It reaffirms its commitment to working with NATO allies, taking a leadership role in European security, and mentions forthcoming plans like the Defence Investment Plan and Defence Readiness Bill.
Cabinet Office
View details
23 Conclusion Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government acknowledges China's long-term national security threat and states it is taking a strategic approach that balances economic engagement with robust challenge, citing existing measures like the NSI Act and ongoing diplomatic engagement with China regarding Russia.
Cabinet Office
View details
28 Conclusion Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of pursuing strategic relationships and highlights its ongoing efforts, including new partnerships with Japan, Indonesia, and India, and the use of instruments like the National Security and Investment Act.
Cabinet Office
View details
30 Conclusion Acknowledged
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)
Government Response
The government agrees with the conclusion, highlighting existing measures such as the NSS and SDR outlining the threat, £6bn investment in nuclear submarine facilities, and deepened nuclear cooperation with France.
Cabinet Office
View details
33 Conclusion Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for clarity but states they will not provide a strict definition of sovereignty, opting instead for a flexible approach through strategic frameworks like the Industrial Strategy and National Security and Investment Act. They believe these existing mechanisms, alongside the forthcoming DIP, provide sufficient certainty and signalling for industry.
Cabinet Office
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 37 of 21 classified
Accepted 17
Accepted in Part 5
Acknowledged 9
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 2
Rejected 2
Total 21 recs + 16 conclusions
Correspondence 6 letters
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
Parliament page