Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 19 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, when he plans to begin the national conversation on defence and security.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the national conversation will be a multi-year engagement designed to embed a whole-of-society approach, where Government, businesses, and the public all play a part in strengthening our resilience. This addresses the risks we face, including threats below and above the threshold of an armed attack.

The Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme has begun this work by starting to familiarise the public with their role in national security and resilience. Central to this is the 'Prepare' website (https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk), which sets out immediate actions the public can take to prepare for emergencies.

The Ministry of Defence is actively supporting this work and is committed to learning from international best practice, both bilaterally and through existing forums such as NATO's Resilience Committee.