Defence Committee

CommonsSelectest. 03 May 1979Email ↗● Actively Monitored
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Sessions analysed45
Commitments76
Positions171
Recommendations138

Latest Signals

15 Jul 2026Shadow-fleet operations continue despite limited disclosureMinistry of DefencePosition
“[Speaker: Louise Sandher-Jones] We have supported operations on other ships. It would be very helpful if I could explain to you the operational conditions and decision-making processes as to why we target one ship as opposed to another.”
15 Jul 2026Committee pressed on fleet readiness and availabilityMinistry of DefenceConcern
15 Jul 2026High North is central to homeland and Euro-Atlantic securityMinistry of DefencePosition
15 Jul 2026UK must step up as US shifts prioritiesMinistry of DefencePosition
15 Jul 2026UK will not be binary on risk; alliances will cover gapsMinistry of DefencePosition
15 Jul 2026JEF is pre-crisis, NATO remains the operational coreMinistry of DefencePosition
15 Jul 2026Deterrence comes from NATO-wide capability, not the High North aloneMinistry of DefencePosition
07 Jul 2026Homeland resilience remains thin and mostly outside MODConcern

Recent Sessions

View all (45)
15 Jul 2026Defence in the High North: NATO, JEF and fleets
4 commit6 pos1 concern
07 Jul 2026Defence Investment Plan: SDR, funding and readiness
3 pos4 concern2 rec
09 Jun 2026Ukraine war shifts, drones and UK lessons
3 pos5 concern2 rec
19 May 2026Afghan data breach, ARAP and resettlement schemes
7 commit3 pos2 concern1 disag
28 Apr 2026Defence in the High North: Russia, UK role
2 pos11 concern4 rec
21 Apr 2026Afghan data breach: MOD accountability and resettlement
3 commit2 pos3 concern1 rec

Recent Commitments

View all (76)

Recent Recommendations

View all (138)

Frequent Witnesses

Ministry of Defence17× · 214 insights
Chatham House3× · 21 insights
Make UK Defence3× · 16 insights
University of St Andrews3× · 13 insights
techUK3× · 5 insights
Strategic Defence Review2× · 25 insights

About this committee

Defence Committee scrutinises defence policy, military strategy, and the Ministry of Defence's spending and operations. The Commons Select Committee takes oral evidence from government ministers, military personnel, civil servants and external experts during regular public sessions. It examines major defence initiatives, spending decisions and operational matters affecting the armed forces. Recent inquiries have focused on UK defence capabilities in the High North, including testimony from academic experts and an expert panel on strategic positioning in that region. The Committee has also investigated the MOD's handling of a data breach involving Afghan Relocation Assistance Programme records, hearing from Williams and Lincoln, and pursued a follow-up inquiry into women in the Armed Forces. In parallel, it has assessed delays to the Defence Industrial Plan and its impact on defence industry capacity, whilst reviewing the MOD's Annual Report for 2024-25 with emphasis on reform priorities and undersea warfare capabilities including submarine and Bastion systems.