Which official serves as the link between Parliament and the MOD?

Which official serves as the link between Parliament and the MOD?

• A. Secretary of State for Defence
• B. Speaker of the House
• C. Prime Minister
• D. Chancellor of the Exchequer

Answer: (A)

Parliament’s job is to scrutinize defence policy and spending, so the official who acts as the direct link between Parliament and the Ministry of Defence is the Secretary of State for Defence. This minister is the political head of the MOD and presents defence policy, answers MPs’ questions, and defends the department’s budget in Parliament. Through this role, Parliament holds the MOD to account and communicates its priorities to the department. The Speaker is the House’s presiding officer and does not run the MOD. The Prime Minister coordinates the government but the formal parliamentary link to the MOD for policy, questions, and budget is the Defence Secretary. The Chancellor handles the budget generally but is not the specific link to the MOD. Inside the MOD, a senior civil servant, the Permanent Under Secretary, runs day-to-day operations, while accountability to Parliament goes through the Defence Secretary.

Parliament’s job is to scrutinize defence policy and spending, so the official who acts as the direct link between Parliament and the Ministry of Defence is the Secretary of State for Defence. This minister is the political head of the MOD and presents defence policy, answers MPs’ questions, and defends the department’s budget in Parliament. Through this role, Parliament holds the MOD to account and communicates its priorities to the department. The Speaker is the House’s presiding officer and does not run the MOD. The Prime Minister coordinates the government but the formal parliamentary link to the MOD for policy, questions, and budget is the Defence Secretary. The Chancellor handles the budget generally but is not the specific link to the MOD. Inside the MOD, a senior civil servant, the Permanent Under Secretary, runs day-to-day operations, while accountability to Parliament goes through the Defence Secretary.