Government response to HL 115/HC 984, session 2012-13 (ISBN 9780108550379)

The Work Of The Joint Committee On The National Security Strategy In 2013-14 (HC 169, HL 1257) covers the work of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, which was established with a broad role; to consider the National Security Strategy. In practice, the Committee has considered not only the National Security Strategy (NSS) document 'A Strong Britain In An Age Of Uncertainty: The National Security Strategy' published by the Government in 2010 (see below), but also the wider strategy that underlies government decision making on matters affecting national security. The report gives an account of activities over the past year, highlighting in particular the evidence session with the Prime Minister in January 2014; draws attention to areas of continuing concern; and outlines objectives for the remainder of the Parliament.

The Committee reviews its work over the past year and calls on the Government to address five key areas of concern: i) The NSC appears to have focused on operational matters and short-term imperatives, rather than long-term strategy; ii) the Committee is not convinced that the NSC is making the contribution it should and questions how much extra value is derived from having the NSC as opposed to preceding systems; iii) major strategic policy changes appear to have been made by individual Government Departments without discussion at the NSC - most notably, the big policy decisions made by the MoD last year in Future Reserves and Army 2020; iv) the NSC appears to have neglected, or only recently discussed, some very central questions: the strategic and security impact of the Eurozone crisis; the planned referendums on Scottish independence and EU membership; and the significance of the US pivot to Asia-Pacific; iv) the Committee has not yet seen evidence of the Government pressing ahead with planning for the next NSS or giving serious consideration to engaging outside experts, politicians across the political parties and the public in its development. The Committee says that in the next stage of its work it will focus on the big strategic questions which the next NSS must address, and to take evidence from outside Government. It plans to hold a series of evidence sessions on: the UK's relationship with NATO; national security and the EU; the nature of our alliance with the United States; energy security; and food security

Government response to HLP 169/HCP 1257, session 2013-14 (ISBN 9780108554476)