09 May 24. Grey Zone: Defence Committee to hold two evidence sessions.
Evidence Session (1): Defence in the Grey Zone
Monday 13 May at 15.30, The Thatcher Room
Watch live on Parliament TV
Evidence Session (2): Defence in the Grey Zone
Tuesday 14 May at 10.30, Committee Room 16
Watch live on Parliament TV
Next week the Defence Committee will hold two evidence session as part of its “Defence in the Grey Zone” inquiry.
The first session will take place on Monday 13 May at 15.30. The Committee will hear from James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber at NATO.
This session will explore NATO’s assessment of hybrid and grey zone threats. Questions are likely to explore how liberal democracies can counter threats from hostile states, asking whether these states – for example, Russia and China – pose different challenges and threats.
Jānis Garisons – former State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia between 2015 and 2024 – will give evidence in the second session, taking place on Tuesday 14 May at 10.30. This session is likely to explore Latvia’s concept of “Comprehensive National Defence”, asking what role militaries must play. The session may discuss international comparators and what the UK can learn from other nations.
Monday 13 May, 15.30:
- James Appathurai – Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber at NATO
Tuesday 14 May, 10.30:
- Jānis Garisons – Former State Secretary at Latvian Ministry of Defence
09 May 24. Defence Committee Chair reacts to latest report from Armed Forces’ Ombudsman. The Defence Committee Chair has reacted to the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces’ annual report, published today. Chair of the Defence Committee, Sir Jeremy Quin MP, said: “Complaints should be treated as an opportunity to reflect and improve, all the more so when they come from people prepared to put their lives on the line for their country. I welcome the Ombudsman’s leadership over the past year in seeking improvements to the armed forces’ service complaints system, as well as in putting things right for individual service personnel otherwise failed by the system. It is sobering that the Ombudsman has never yet judged the service complaints system to be efficient, effective or fair – but it is gratifying to see continued progress towards this goal. This progress must be maintained. The Defence Committee will continue to focus on how the system is working in practice for the brave men and women we rely on to keep us safe.”