Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the National Security Council has in ensuring closer working between his Department and other Government Departments. [22183]

Dr Fox MP; Secretary of State for Defence: We set up the National Security Council to direct a fully co-ordinated Government response to the dangers we face. It integrates at the highest level the work of defence, foreign, home, energy and international development Departments, and all other arms of Government contributing to national security. It has successfully led the work on the Strategic Defence and Security Review and will see through its implementation.