The devil is in the detail
by Charlie Edwards
* Create a national security strategy
* Develop a strategy directed by the permanent secretary, Intelligence Security and Resilience at the Cabinet Office together with a ministerial committee on national security under the instruction of the prime
* Provide an annual report on the implementation of the strategy to Parliament
In the Green paper published yesterday Gordon Brown has committed the Government to implementing all of the above.
But the devil is in the detail – the National Security Committee for instance will replace the existing Ministerial Committees on Defence and Overseas Policy, Security and Terrorism, and Europe not actually create a national security council such as the US model so the Defence and Overseas Secretariat will remain. ODSec as it is colloquially referred still needs to be strengthened.
Strengthening the Intelligence and Security Committee with the appointment of an investigator is good news but it has taken three years to replace the last incumbent, John Morrison, who was dismissed for appearing on Newsnight in 2004.
In November we will be publishing a new pamphlet on National Security for the 21st Century. To date the pamphlet has 45 recommendations. Gordon Brown has set change in motion but there is still a long way to go.