Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department work on engagement with NATO.

NATO is the cornerstone of UK and Euro-Atlantic defence, The UK will remain the leading European ally within NATO, bolstering the alliance by tackling threats jointly and committing our resources to collective security in the Euro-Atlantic.

The Joint Unit Euro-Atlantic Security Policy (EASP) was launched on 18 October 2016.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence colleagues are now co-located as a single team leading the Government's work on NATO policy, the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, and Conventional Arms Control in Europe. We report jointly to the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary, providing joined up advice and policy options to both Secretaries of State.

NATO is a cross-cutting area within the Euro-Atlantic Security Directorate. There are approximately 34 people working on engagement with NATO.