Defending Global Britain in a Competitive Age

Defence Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 17 Mar 2021 Closed: 6 Dec 2022 Parliament page
The Committee is examining the defence task and capability commitments in the Integrated Review, the Defence in a Competitive Age paper and the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy. The Committee intends to evaluate how effective the commitments will be in responding to the threats to the UK and how the … Read more
7 Recommendations
16 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Oral sessions
1 Letter
6 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
10 Nov
2022
Report published
28 Jul
2022
Report published
18 Jan
2022
Correspondence
30 Nov
2021
Oral evidence
6 Jul
2021
Oral evidence
23 Jun
2021
Oral evidence
20 Apr
2021
Oral evidence
13 Apr
2021
Oral evidence
23 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
30 Nov 2021
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Sir Stephen Lovegrove, National Security Adviser
6 Jul 2021
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Panel 1
Lt Gen (Retd) Ben Hodges · Center for European Policy Analysis
23 Jun 2021
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Panel 1
Air Marshal Richard Knighton CB · Ministry of Defence Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP · Ministry of Defence
20 Apr 2021
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Paul Hough, defence business consultant Professor John Louth, independent author and defence analyst
13 Apr 2021
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Panel 1
Dr Sidharth Kaushal · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Rear Admiral Alex Burton, Former Commander, UK Maritime Forces (2016-2017)
23 Mar 2021
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Field Marshal the Lord Richards of Herstmonceux GCB CBE DSO DL · Ministry of Defence The Lord Houghton of Richmond GCB CBE DL · Ministry of Defence
Recommendations & Conclusions
23 results
1 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
It is difficult not to feel a sense of déjà vu as we see British...
It is difficult not to feel a sense of déjà vu as we see British military ambitions which are not entirely matched by resources. Open conflict has returned to Europe and it is disappointing to see that the Government is … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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2 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
In the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper, the Government identified and understood the...
In the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper, the Government identified and understood the implications of the range of complex and cascading threats faced by the UK. However, the impact of both the Afghan withdrawal and the Russian full-scale … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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3 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
There is a need for a New Chapter update to the IR and the Defence...
There is a need for a New Chapter update to the IR and the Defence Command Paper which takes into account the events in Afghanistan and Ukraine. The document should then set out how the analysis of the strategic context … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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4 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
The UK public is aware of the threats which the UK faces but does not...
The UK public is aware of the threats which the UK faces but does not appear to trust the Government to act in the national interest. Whilst investments in new technology are vital, it is also clear that, the days … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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5 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
The Government needs to ensure that the public is aware of the link between the...
The Government needs to ensure that the public is aware of the link between the cost of living and global instability: the rises in energy and food prices are both directly attributable to the conflict in Ukraine. The Government needs … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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6 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
Foreign policy decisions and consequent actions by UK Defence need to be supported by the...
Foreign policy decisions and consequent actions by UK Defence need to be supported by the UK public. The lack of organisation round the withdrawal from Afghanistan damaged the Government’s standing. However, so far, engagement with the public on the Russian … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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7 Recommendation
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
Defence in a Competitive Age and the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy are ambitious papers,...
Defence in a Competitive Age and the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy are ambitious papers, aimed at modernising UK defence and ensuring it has equipment suitable for the Information Age. Whilst the conclusions of Defence in a Competitive Age ought … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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8 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
The reason that lack of publicly available information of the Government’s defence and security priorities...
The reason that lack of publicly available information of the Government’s defence and security priorities presents a problem is that for integration—highlighted by the MoD as absolutely vital for the UK’s security—to be effective, the NSC must set clear priorities, … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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9 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
The lack of prioritisation means that it is impossible to determine which of the threats...
The lack of prioritisation means that it is impossible to determine which of the threats highlighted the Government perceives to be greatest. It also results in the military seemingly being the answer for every question whilst not being appropriately resourced … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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10 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
We are further concerned by the use of the UK Armed Forces as a ‘backfill’,...
We are further concerned by the use of the UK Armed Forces as a ‘backfill’, employed to carry out civilian tasks by Departments which are seemingly unable to respond to crises themselves. This is compounded by the MOD’s failure to … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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11 Recommendation
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
We recommend that the MOD publish annual figures for the assistance provided to other Government...
We recommend that the MOD publish annual figures for the assistance provided to other Government Departments and to public authorities. This list should include the number of personnel deployed, the length of deployment, the task they were deployed for, the … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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12 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
Alongside the Permanent Secretary’s acknowledgement that some of the risk judgements made within the Integrated...
Alongside the Permanent Secretary’s acknowledgement that some of the risk judgements made within the Integrated Review process might need to be revisited in light of events in Ukraine, it is clear that the capability gaps which the Defence Command Paper … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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13 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
The MOD faces a number of challenges following decisions made in the Integrated Review: the...
The MOD faces a number of challenges following decisions made in the Integrated Review: the likelihood of a capability gap, as equipment is retired before its replacement is introduced; a reduction in the British Army’s heavy armour and mass at … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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14 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
It is clear that, even if the Government decides to proceed with the decisions taken...
It is clear that, even if the Government decides to proceed with the decisions taken in the IR and the Defence Command Paper, the timeline of changes ought also to be reviewed given the potential for capability gaps which leave … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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15 Recommendation
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
There is a danger of overstretch.
There is a danger of overstretch. The Government needs to ensure that the military is properly resourced with both equipment and personnel to carry out the tasks required of it. To do this, we recommend there be a wholesale re-examination … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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16 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
Integration is key to the effective implementation of the Integrated Review and the Defence Command...
Integration is key to the effective implementation of the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Papers. It is clear that this requires a long-term commitment, with decisions consistently re-evaluated as progress is made. It further requires a cohesive, effective and … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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17 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
If Afghanistan was intended to be an example of effective policy integration in action then...
If Afghanistan was intended to be an example of effective policy integration in action then it leaves a lot to be desired. It is even more worrying given that the NSC apparently gave the political direction required to bring together … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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18 Recommendation
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
The Government should publish the actions agreed by each of the Departments as a result...
The Government should publish the actions agreed by each of the Departments as a result of the lessons learned exercises which examined the response to the Afghanistan crisis, together with a time frame for implementation.
Ministry of Defence
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19 Recommendation
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
We welcome the uplift to the MOD’s budget in 2020 and the four-year budget commitment.
We welcome the uplift to the MOD’s budget in 2020 and the four-year budget commitment. However, inflationary pressures and an increase in the scale of threat means that it is no longer enough. At the same time, serious concerns persist … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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20 Recommendation
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
There are significant challenges to integration but none that concerns us as much as the...
There are significant challenges to integration but none that concerns us as much as the MOD’s procurement difficulties. For instance, the MOD has made it clear that in order to achieve integration and utilise new technologies, it needs an effective … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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21 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
The lack of a definition of what it means to be integrated makes it somewhat...
The lack of a definition of what it means to be integrated makes it somewhat difficult to measure the success of the Government in achieving its objectives. However, we will continue to evaluate the implementation of the Integrated Review, the … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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22 Conclusion
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
We welcome the Government’s commitment to the publication of an annual review on the implementation...
We welcome the Government’s commitment to the publication of an annual review on the implementation of the Integrated Review. However, given that the implementation is the key, consistent evaluation of the implementation of the strategies throughout this Parliament is vital. … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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23 Recommendation
Second Report - The Integrated Rev…
As well as an annual report on the implementation of the IR, we recommend the...
As well as an annual report on the implementation of the IR, we recommend the MOD produce an annual evaluation of what has been achieved in their implementation of Defence in a Competitive Age and DSIS. This evaluation should include … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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Correspondence 1 letter
18 Jan 2022 Letter dated 11th January responding to Chair regarding the Integrated Review, Defence Command Paper and the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy
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