Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 92 of his Department's Strategic Defence Review, published 2 June 2025, what progress he has made on the proposed two-year series of public events as part of the national conversation on defence and security.

As part of the Government’s National Conversation on defence and security, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has increased its public engagement activity to improve awareness of the changing security environment and the role that individuals, communities and employers can play in strengthening national resilience. The Ministry of Defence is working closely with the Cabinet Office, who lead the overarching strategy, as part of its Home Defence Programme.

We are playing a key role to ensure Defence has a strong voice to increase public awareness and preparedness to the most serious risks we face, including conflict scenarios and the important role for the whole of society to respond to these. Alongside cross-Government engagement with key stakeholders, the MOD is playing a key role within this programme of work; connecting with industry, local resilience fora, the voluntary sector, and working with our active reserves and local cadet groups to facilitate a whole of society approach to defence and security.

This includes promoting the role of the Armed Forces through community engagement and outreach activities, and strengthening our links with Local Resilience Forums and wider community partners through resilience-focused exercising and preparedness testing activities.

Looking ahead, 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, aiming to educate households on preparing for emergencies alongside increased information about state-based threats. Defence will continue to support the National Conversation by increasing engagement with communicates across the UK and further amplifying public messaging on defence, security and national resilience.