Lords Committee to question Chief of the Defence Staff on the UK’s defence policy and current priorities
Friday 17 June 2022
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, will appear before the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee in an evidence session that will explore the UK’s current defence priorities and challenges faced by the British Armed Forces. This is part of the Committee’s continued assessment of the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper, published in 2021.
In an additional session the Committee will hear from a former Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff to get his view on the feasibility of achieving the UK’s ambitious foreign, defence, security and development policies as set out in both documents.
The sessions will run from 10.30am on Wednesday 22 June and will be available to watch live or on demand on Parliament TV or attend in person in Committee Room 4, Palace of Westminster.
Giving evidence will be:
10.30am
- Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff.
11.30am
- Air Marshal (Retired) Edward Stringer, Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (2015-18) and Director-General of Joint Force Development (2018-21).
Questions may include:
- What are your main priorities during your tenure as the Chief of the Defence Staff? How do these priorities align with the objectives set out by the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper?
- Do you think the messages the Integrated Review have been reinforced by what we see in Ukraine, in particular its identification of Russia as the most acute direct threat to the UK? Do you think that the bet made by the Defence Command Paper to focus on new technologies and threats below the threshold of war, rather than mass and conventional warfare, should be revised in light of the war in Ukraine?
- What is your assessment of the UK’s industrial capacity to produce weapons not only to supply Ukraine, but also to resupply our own stockpiles and develop future capabilities? What are the main challenges (and opportunities) you identify?
- Previous witnesses have voiced concerns that with the limited resources available, it may prove challenging for the Government to achieve all of its stated goals and ambitions in the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper. Do you share such concerns? Which goals should be the highest priorities, and could any lesser priorities be delayed or dropped?
