Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, if he will outline the responsibilities of the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge role.

The key responsibilities of the role are:

The Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State and Head of Review and Challenge will be responsible for providing expert strategic advice to the Secretary of State and, as appropriate to the PUS, CDS and NAD as well as the Ministerial team.

They will lead, provide senior oversight and tasking, but not line management, of the Secretary of State’s Office of Net Assessment and Challenge (SONAC) (circa 30 staff).

In this role they will reform the way the Department offers challenge to policy and strategy.

They will play a key role in advising strategic coherence of Departmental outcomes and activity. They will work closely with the Strategy Directorate and use their skills, expertise, and network to improve strategic acumen both in the directorate and across the department.

They will collaborate with the Director of Communications on strategic communications as required.

Provide senior strategic advice to the Secretary of State to assist the strategic coherence and impact of Defence’s activities.

Provide strategic challenge to the Defence Board and other senior decision-making boards as appropriate.

Provide senior leadership to the internal provision of strategic expertise, helping to improve the quality of advice from both the strategy directorate and from elsewhere in the department.

Improve the department’s use of external expertise, including from academia and think tanks.