Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 93 of his Department’s Strategic Defence Review, published 2 June 2025, what progress he has made on ensuring plans made under the Home Defence Programme meet needs in the event of escalation to war.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to update its own Homeland Defence and transition to war plans and plays a significant role in the wider cross-Government Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme. As Homeland Defence is an inherently whole-of-Government effort, Defence is working closely with other Departments to ensure all plans are aligned in meeting needs, in the event of escalation to war.

In July, the Government announced an acceleration of the Home Defence Programme. A key element of this is the commitment to re-write, by the end of this year, the War Books. Defence planning is informing our input to these War Books as we support the Home Defence Programme focus on resilience and preparedness in the face of the range of threats and risks that the UK faces.

The Strategic Defence Review committed to develop a ‘Defence Readiness Bill’ and Defence is developing legislation in close partnership with the rest of government for introduction within this Parliament. This will ensure the Government has the powers it needs to keep the UK safe, both now and in times of heightened crisis or escalation towards war.

These risks continue to be informed by the National Risk Register, the government’s assessment of the most significant risks facing the UK and a public facing version of the National Security Risk Assessment.