The National Security Council is a United Kingdom cabinet committee. The Council's terms of reference was said in September 2022 to consider matters relating to national security, foreign policy, defence, trade, international relations, development, resilience and resource security.
The NSC has counterparts in the national security councils of many other nations.
History
The then National Security Council was established on 12 May 2010 by Prime Minister David Cameron. The NSC formalised national security decision making, which had previously been carried out in informal groups largely composed of officials. It increased the power of the Prime Minister, who chairs the council, and brought senior Cabinet ministers into national security policy making, giving them access to the highest levels of intelligence. It coordinates responses to threats faced by the United Kingdom and integrates at the highest level the work of relevant government entities with respect to national security. The council reflected the central coordination of national security issues seen in the Committee of Imperial Defence, which operated from 1902 until 1947, while also being partly modelled on the United States National Security Council.
The first National Security Adviser (NSA) was also appointed on 12 May 2010. They act as the council's secretary.The incumbent NSA is Sir Tim Barrow.
From 1 April 2015 the council oversaw the newly created Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, a fund of more than £1 billion per year for tackling conflict and instability abroad. Following a critical inquiry into the fund by the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy in 2016, where the committee stated that the fund was secretive and "There is a risk that the CSSF is being used as a 'slush fund' [for projects that do not] meet the needs of UK national security", fund spending at the country level was disclosed and an annual report produced.
In April 2019, an inquiry, which could lead to criminal proceedings, was announced into the leaking to The Daily Telegraph of a decision by the NSC to allow Huawei to bid for 'non-core' elements of the construction of the prospective 5G network.
In the early months of Johnson's premiership, several sub-committees of the NSC ceased to exist. Additionally, the NSC met weekly during the ministries of David Cameron and Theresa May, but didn't meet at all between January and May 2020, under Boris Johnson. Johnson has since confirmed that he will chair a NSC meeting at least once per month and more frequently if circumstances dictate. Johnson's non-use of the NSC has been criticised.
The Council was briefly renamed the Foreign Policy and Security Council (FPSC) under Prime Minister Liz Truss. The list of Cabinet Committees published 3 November 2022, confirmed the name had been changed back to National Security Council under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Membership
As of 21 April 2023, the National Security Council's membership is as follows:
Other ministers and senior officials attend the NSC and NSM where applicable. These other figures have been noted to include the Chief of the Defence Staff (not the individual chiefs of each service), the heads of intelligence agencies and the Leader of the Opposition. Stakeholders including the devolved governments, local authorities and external experts are also consulted in preparation for meetings.
Sub-committees
Nuclear Deterrence and Security Sub-Committee
The terms of reference of the National Deterrence and Security Sub-Committee is to consider issues relating to nuclear deterrence and security. As of 21 April 2023, its membership is as follows:
Europe Sub-Committee
The terms of reference of the Europe Sub-Committee is to consider matters of foreign policy and trade in relation to Europe. As of 21 April 2023, its membership is as follows: