Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made since the publication of the Strategic Defence Review in cross-government cooperation to defend the UK.

Since publication of the Strategic Defence Review, significant progress has been made in strengthening cross-government cooperation to defend the UK. Departmental collaboration is vital to ensure that the UK has reviewed, resourced, and tested our Home Defence plans. Through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme, the Government has committed to refreshing its central Departmental War Books.

As confirmed in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 14 July 2026, 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 to the Home Defence Programme, to facilitate a whole of society approach to defence and security.

The Government is bringing together military teams and civilian organisations, including both industry and the voluntary sector, to improve preparedness planning for the most serious risks we face. A series of Home Defence exercises have already been held, and this programme of testing activities will increase ahead of ALBISTON SHADOW, a major UK Home Defence exercise, and NATO’s Crisis Management Exercise in spring 2027.