Oral QuestionMinistry of Defence

“What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to strengthen national resilience.”

Tabled: 13 October 2026Answered: 19 October 2026

Asked by

Laura Kyrke-Smith

Labour — Aylesbury

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Defence

Answer from Hansard

The Secretary of State for Defence (Wes Streeting)

The strategic defence review published last year set out that defence must play a stronger role in protecting our homeland. The Ministry of Defence is taking a whole-of-Government approach, working closely with the Cabinet Office and particularly the Home Office. We are bringing together industry, civil society, emergency services and the public to help build a whole-of-society approach to resilience and preparedness. We are refreshing our homeland defence plans, we will introduce a defence readiness Bill, and we are strengthening critical national infrastructure resilience. I look forward to keeping the House updated, including on the actions that Members can take and ways they can support their constituents, and to supporting the national conversation that is under way.