02 Mar 15. Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy. The next National Security Strategy (NSS) must engage with changing threats and prepare for the challenges of the next five years, says Rt. Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Chair of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy. The JCNSS has published its latest report, looking at the next National Security Strategy which is expected to be published after the General Election. In its report the Committee said that the next NSS should look hard at the UK’s place within the international order, and what strategic thinking should underpin its actions over the next five years. It also needs to influence the Comprehensive Spending Review, to ensure that the Government can make fully-informed decisions on security-related spending. The next NSS should set clear objectives for the UK’s future place in the world and geopolitical priorities, and inform the Strategic Defence and Security Review’s assessment of the means required to achieve them. The Committee is keen to see a “thorough revisit” of the NSS, and expressed regret at “the lack of engagement from the Government on occasion, and … frustration at the lack of preparation and consultation for the next NSS”. The Committee has asked the Government to prepare a confidential annex to the NSS which can be used in Government departments to set planning assumptions for a range of scenarios. It also presses the National Security Council to meet more regularly, and to ensure that it is taking a strategic as well as reactive role.
The Chair of the Committee, Rt. Hon Margaret Beckett MP said, “We are very keen to see the next NSS acting as a truly useful document for cross-Government security planning, particularly as a tool to allow for flexible policy, taking into account potential developments in domestic and international affairs. We have urged the Government to engage with a range of people – experts, the public and our Committee – when preparing the NSS, and also to take an active role in public engagement, to ensure that the British public understand the thinking behind our national security strategy.”
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Asked by Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling)
Asked on: 23 February 2015
Ministry of Defence
Ukraine
224886
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information he has as to whether Saxon armoured vehicles exported to Ukraine will have arms mounted on them by Ukroboronprom or any other Ukrainian organisation.
Answered by: Mr Philip Dunne
Answered on: 03 March 2015
The Ministry of Defence supplied the first batch of 20 Saxon vehicles to the Ukrainian Government. The vehicles were delivered unarmed and any subsequent decision to arm those vehicles is a matter for the Ukrainian Government.
Asked by Sir Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex)
Asked on: 24 February 2015
Ministry of Defence
Public Expenditure
225276
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Supplementary Estimate Provision of DefenceCapability vote (a) Department Expenditure Limit and (b) Annually Managed Expenditure provision by subhead was in (i) near-cash and (ii) non-cash terms in each financial year from 2010-11.
Answered by: Michael Fallon
Answered on: 03 March 2015
The information for the years requested is available in the MOD Main and Supplementary Estimates; and the Annual Report and Accounts, which have been laid in the House and are available at the below links.
In this context, the term “ringfenced” is broadly similar to “non-cash” and the term “non-ringfenced” is broadly similar to “near-cash”
Main Estimates
2010-11
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/247983/0269.pdf
2011-12
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/205103/Main_parliamentary_supply_estimates_2011-12.pdf
2012-13
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/205092/Main_parl