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Written Question
Defence
Monday 8th December 2025

Asked by: Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to explain the whole-of-society approach to defence as outlined in the Strategic Defence Review 2025 to the wider public.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The whole-of-society approach to deterrence and defence sets out how Government, businesses, and the public all play a part in strengthening our national defence and resilience. This addresses the risks we face, including threats below and above the threshold of an armed attack.

The Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme, in which Defence plays a key role, has begun this work by starting to familiarise the public with their role in national security and resilience.

The Ministry of Defence is already delivering on reconnecting Defence with society. For example, an extra £70 million funding has been allocated to kickstart the cadet growth programme, expanding the cadet forces by 30% by 2030, and will continue to work to strengthen civilian-military links with communities and industry. This was a Strategic Defence Review recommendation.

Written Question
Defence
Monday 8th December 2025

Asked by: Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to lead a national conversation on defence as recommended in the Strategic Defence Review 2025; and, if so, who will be leading it.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the noble Lord to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Armed Forces (Al Carns DSO OBE MC MP), in the House of Commons on the 2 December 2025 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr Cartlidge) in response to Question 93395.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 25 Feb 2022
Ukraine

"My Lords, there is an old saying: in Russia, everything changes in 20 years and nothing changes in 200 years. It maybe gets to the heart of the recent crisis, when the unthinkable has become the inevitable.

Over the last few weeks I have been wondering, with the rest of …..."
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen - View Speech

View all Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Ukraine
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 23 Nov 2021
Armed Forces Bill

"My Lords, I speak to Amendment 27, in my name and those of other noble Lords, which calls for an independent defence representation unit. The amendment moved by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, is the principal amendment in this group, but this amendment is important and …..."
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen - View Speech

View all Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Bill
Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 02 Nov 2021
Armed Forces Bill

"My Lords, it is a great privilege to follow the former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales in making the valuable and very firm points that he made. The question he asks is far from rhetorical. Why should members of our Armed Forces settle for second best? Why should …..."
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen - View Speech

View all Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Bill
Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 02 Nov 2021
Armed Forces Bill

"My Lords, I support Amendment 48 and will follow what the noble Lord, Lord Dannatt, and the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Houghton, said. I will say why the amendment and more care for mental illness are required.

I live in a town in Scotland called Dunblane. In 1996, a …..."
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen - View Speech

View all Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Bill
Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 02 Nov 2021
Armed Forces Bill

"My Lords, I can tell my noble friend that I left the Ministry of Defence in October 1999, so I cannot claim the credit...."
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen - View Speech

View all Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Bill
Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 02 Nov 2021
Armed Forces Bill

"Will the noble Baroness give way for a moment? She admits that she is not implementing all the recommendations in the Henriques report in relation to the prosecution and then she said that the Government would consider them with utmost speed. I recognise all these wonderful phrases. Then she said …..."
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen - View Speech

View all Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Bill
Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 02 Nov 2021
Armed Forces Bill

"May I ask the Minister to be more specific and tell us which of his recommendations in relation to this specific part raise policy implications that will have to be considered over some time?..."
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen - View Speech

View all Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 28 Apr 2021
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill

"My Lords, I am grateful for the clarification by the Whip on the Bench. I am going to talk about Amendment A only at the moment, but the Minister clearly was trying to save us time by conflating everything into one. I thank the Minister for her co-operation and help …..."
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen - View Speech

View all Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill