Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has in place to supply the foreign policy component of the Strategic Defence Review. [1014]

Alistair Burt MP; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office: The foundation of the Strategic Defence and Security Review will be an assessment of Britain's place in the world, of the threats and opportunities facing Britain, and how we best defend ourselves against those threats and exploit those opportunities. That assessment will be agreed by the National Security Council, and it will determine the broad range of capabilities which we need. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will continue to supply foreign policy input throughout the review.