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Mr Speaker. I would like to begin by adding my own personal expression of condolence and profound sympathy for the American people – for the families, friends and colleagues of those who have been killed or injured.  

Although these appalling attacks took place thousands of miles away, they are very close to the people of this country – because we, as individuals, are bound by ties of family, of friendship, and of work to the United States.

One symbol of the strength of the relationship between our two countries is the number of British citizens who live and work in the United States or who visit its cities like New York every day.  

The number of our citizens confirmed dead or missing is already into the hundreds. I am sure that I speak for the whole House in expressing our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of those we know have died and our thoughts are with those who still wait to hear news of their loved ones. 

For those in the defence community, this tragedy is also close to home. The attacks focused on civilians in New York and Pennsylvania. They also focused on our colleagues in the United States Armed Forces and the civilians who work with them. Many members of our two Armed Forces have trained together, deployed together, and, in many cases fought together. Officials in the Ministry of Defence work closely with their colleagues in the Department of Defense. The lives lost and the injuries caused by the attack on the Pentagon have had a particularly profound impact on all of those in the United Kingdom’s defence community. I know I speak for them all in expressing our sympathy and our support.

I have spoken to US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to express my solidarity and support to him and to the United States Department of Defence. We are united in our determination to bring those responsible to justice. The Chief of the Defence Staff and other senior military personnel have spoken to their counterparts to express their shock and their sympathy. 

Our strong relationship with the United States, and with their armed forces, is a practical expression of our close personal ties. The Government is identifying what practical help and expertise we can provide in the immediate aftermath of this tragedy. We have already offered a wide-ranging package of assistance, including specialist search personnel and equipment and forensic experts. Because we have faced terrorism ourselves, for far too many years now, we have developed some of the world’s best counter-terrorist expertise and capabilities.

Our own preparations have also included a raft of robust contingency plans in the interests of national security and the protection of the public.These plans are well prepared, regularly exercised, tested, reviewed, and refined in the light of changing domestic and international circumstances. By their very nature, these plans cannot be made public.To do so would allow potential aggressors to undermine them. But should the United Kingdom be threatened in any way we will not hesitate to defend ourselves. 

Many parts of Government are devoted to monitoring and responding to the potential terrorist threat. Obviously, these include military experts. They also include the security and intelligence agencies, the police, scientists and other specialists. We continue to learn from our own experience and from the experience of our friends and allies. 

It follows, therefore, that the events in the United States triggered an immediate precautionary response here. I would like to outline this response to the House. Recognising that no specific warning was given of terrorist attacks in the United States, we immediately strengthened the position of key elements of our Armed Forces. This included reducing the notice to move of military personnel who would assist the police, if necessary, in guarding our airports. Ground based air defence assets were also placed at a higher state of readiness, in case they were required to guard key economic, governmental, and strategic assets throughout the UK. Air defence aircraft of the Royal Air Force are constantly at a state of high readiness. Their role is to deter: to deflect and ultimately to destroy any threat from the skies. 

Thankfully, it has not yet been necessary to take further measures or to utilise those assets that were earmarked to provide specific degrees of protection earlier this week. Of course, we are continuing to keep this under close review.

Our rapid reaction on this occasion demonstrated once again the flexibility, professionalism, and dedication of our Armed Forces. And it showed again how often we turn to them to help out in civil, as well as military, emergencies. 

My direct responsibility is obviously for the Armed Forces. But I should also like to speak of the very significant role that other Departments and agencies play in these circumstances.

The police, for example, would quite rightly take the leading role in response to an incident. They would call on the Armed Forces’ unique assets and capabilities, as well as those provided by other emergency services and local and unitary authorities. As we saw in the United States this week, the police, the fire service, and other civil emergency services are often the first to place themselves in harms way in order that they might help others. I know that our own emergency services would have reacted with the same outstanding courage and self sacrifice as was demonstrated by their American colleagues. 

The police have been unstinting in their vigilance in ensuring that no terrorist can pass undetected. Over the past week, working the longest possible hours, they have provided advice and reassurance to the many members of the British public who have been concerned about any threat to their safety. 

We can well understand why people have these concerns. But I must reinforce the message that the police have been giving - that whilst we should all be vigilant, we should not allow the events of the past week to damage or undermine our day-to-day way of life. This Government and the police are fully committed to ensuring that individual members of the public are protected in the event of any specific threat to any location or building. Until that occurs, panic or disruption can only play into the hands of those who are trying to destabilise our way of life. 

Police patrols on the streets of London have been intensified and all police forces have been put on full alert. This intensification of their work will continue throughout the weekend and for as long as is necessary. 

Specific actions have also been taken to ensure that people and buildings that might become particular targets are protected. Military establishments – both at home and abroad – and Ministry of Defence and other Government Department establishments raised their security states. Security at airports and points of entry into this country were raised to the highest level. Specific advice on what to do was given to all our embassies and made available to British nationals overseas. 

The Metropolitan Police have set up an information centre at Scotland Yard where friends and relatives of the missing can seek detailed help and advice. A similar facility is being established in the British Consulate in New York.  

The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions co-ordinated the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Service work to facilitate the return of aircraft to airports following the closure of US air space. All flights over London airspace were halted and private charter flights were grounded, as was the case in other European capital cities. Inevitably, this caused disruption to many people’s travel plans, but I know they understand the need for increased vigilance at this time. The Government is working closely with industry and the airlines to minimise this disruption. Several military airfields and their facilities were made ready to help with the return of US-bound flights, in the event this extra capacity was not needed. But assistance was provided with the management of airspace, while non-essential flights were cancelled. 

The attacks in America demonstrated the full evil of international terrorism. These were attacks on democracy and freedom themselves – on the rights of ordinary, innocent people to go peacefully and safely about their lives. To commit acts of this nature requires a fanaticism and wickedness that is beyond our normal comprehension. 

Of course we have intelligence expertise and systems in place that are organised to try to prevent these attacks from happening. But we have to consider what we would do if a terrorist attack of a similar order of magnitude occurred here. That is why, earlier this year, the Government set up a Civil Contingencies Secretariat. Based within the Cabinet Office, this has drawn from the expertise that has been developed especially in the Home Office but also within other Departments. Part of the Secretariat’s job is to assess issues that could arise and alert departments, including if necessary, local agencies, that may be affected. This central co-ordinating role is crucial in bringing together the emergency planning functions of all Government Departments. It has been utilised extensively during recent days.

As well as their recent activity, the Civil Contingencies Secretariat has undertaken work, with industry and other organisations to identify potential threats, vulnerabilities and interdependencies, and to agree responsibilities for responding to a developing threat. As a result, the consequences of disruption in key sectors of our national infrastructure are now understood far better than they were and better preparations for our response are in place.

For example, the specific and mutual aid plans that are held by health authorities and trusts to ensure the maintenance of services have been reviewed. Communication plans for maintaining both the machinery of Government and the Emergency Communications Network are also in place. And in addition the armed forces stand ready to assist the civil agencies as required. All elements of Government are now working together even more effectively than they were.

The bravery, resilience, and determination of the American people in the face of Tuesday’s attack has been a shining example to others around the world. Of course there is shock and of course there is anger. But they have made it clear that they will not allow the people who commit such crimes to win. And they have made it clear that they will see that they are brought to justice.

I want, today, to make clear to all those who commit these cowardly acts or harbour these brutal criminals that, like the American people, we will not be cowed by atrocity. Our resolve, our vigilance, and our purpose are strong and clear. We can and we will defend our people and our values against acts of terror – in whatever form they take. 

That is why, on Wednesday, NATO invoked Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Under Article 5, Allies agree that – and I quote – ‘an armed attack against one … shall be considered an attack against them all’. The NATO Allies of the United States, therefore, stand ready to provide assistance in exercise of the right of self defence. Each member of the Alliance will assist by taking ‘such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force'. Any NATO action that might flow from this would be subject to consideration and decision by the North Atlantic Council. This was a significant action on the part of the NATO Allies: an unprecedented step – the first time in the history of the Alliance. 

As my Right Honourable Friend, the Prime Minister, said earlier, the murder of British people in New York is no different from their murder here at home. The United Kingdom has both an interest and also an obligation to provide assistance to the United States, to help bring those responsible to account and to remove the threat that terrorists pose to the international community.  

That assistance has already begun. There have been close contacts between a range of Government agencies in both countries. For example, the Metropolitan Police are in close touch with their colleagues in the New York Police department. The Treasury and the Bank of England have been in close contact with the Federal Reserve. We are already sharing information we have that may be useful to the United States authorities in their search for those responsible. 

We are looking at what we can do on the diplomatic front and in the international community to reduce the threat of any more events such as those we saw on Tuesday. We are looking at ways to deal with these groups more effectively, to starve them of their resources and support, and to implement these measures from a solid international foundation. 

We are also examining the contribution that the United Kingdom could make militarily in the event of any requests from the United States to assist in bringing to account those who have organised, abetted, and incited these acts. 

It is now three days since the events in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. We will all have to continue to live with their impact. We are not complacent, but we have taken sensible precautions, and we will not be deflected from our purpose. We will continue to pursue our normal lives and fulfil our responsibilities at home and overseas.

Despite the impact that terrorism has had over recent days, we will not forget that, with our allies, we act as a force for good around the world. And we must continue to do so. Otherwise the terrorists will have achieved one of their aims. 

That is why, for example, our Armed Forces will continue their important work in Macedonia, which is aimed, as elsewhere in the Balkans, at bringing peace and stability to that region. The arms collection work is a vital part of the peace agreement between the Macedonian political parties. The National Liberation Army has handed in significant numbers of weapons to Task Force Harvest and the Macedonian parliament has passed a first vote in favour of the settlement. The second phase of weapons collection has now been completed. It is vital that all sides maintain the positive approach to the process that we have seen so far.

And we remain committed to enhancing our close relationship with friends in the Islamic world. The House will be aware that we are preparing to undertake the largest exercise of British Armed Forces in the Gulf for many years. Exercise SAIF SAREEA will ensure that our armed forces are fully trained to meet their operational tasks, as well as to demonstrate our commitment to peace and security in that region. 

We have no plans to call off this Exercise. We will not be deflected from ensuring that the effectiveness of our armed forces is maintained at the highest level that is possible. Nor will we be deflected from demonstrating our solidarity with our many friends in the Islamic world. I pay tribute to the steadfastness of all those in the Gulf region who have expressed their sympathy and outrage following the events on Tuesday.  

The attacks on our friends in the United States were an attack on values that are recognised across the world. We will not tolerate this. These values are not divided by religion, creed, race, or political party. They will not be overcome by barbarism, arrogance, or tyranny.

The depth and breadth of the condemnation and disgust that has been expressed by nations all around the world are an indication of the level of the evil and the horror of what we witnessed. They should also have brought home to the perpetrators of this crime and to those who give them active or passive support the world’s resolve and determination to bring them to justice. 

Make no mistake. That is what we will be doing. The UN, NATO, the EU, and the G8 will all work to this end. I can assure the House that the United Kingdom will take a full and active role in this. This Government will never allow the perpetrators of the sort of atrocities that we witnessed across the Atlantic on Tuesday to succeed in achieving their objectives. 

Our message is that those who carry out such acts of evil will not deter us from doing what is just and what is right. Now is the time for all nations to show where they stand.

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• UK Online - cross-government information on the situation

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