Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the national conversation on defence and security recommended by the Strategic Defence Review will be instigated; and where ministerial responsibility for this will lie.

The National Conversation is essential to promote unity of effort across society and support a whole-of-society approach to UK deterrence and defence. In many ways, the conversation has already begun, as evidenced in the Prime Minister’s statement evidence at the Liaison’s Committee on 23 March and reinforced by the Prime Minister’s remarks on 5 June, highlighting that we are living in more dangerous and volatile times with increasing state backed attacks across the UK and other countries.

This Government is committed to strengthening national preparedness and the communication of threats through the Prime Minister-led national conversation to increase public awareness of the most serious risks we face. As confirmed in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 14 July, the Government will launch a national resilience public awareness campaign later this year. The Ministry of Defence is playing a key role within the programme of work, aligned Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme, to facilitate a whole of society approach to defence and security.