The Strategic Horizons Unit was established in accordance with the Prime Minister’s written ministerial statement of 22 July 2008 on the National Security Strategy:
“Alongside (the National Security Secretariat) a horizon scanning unit will be established which will co-ordinate the security-related horizon scanning currently undertaken in a number of Government Departments, with the intention of giving it an overarching framework and a more coherent output.”
The unit began operations on 23 September 2008.
Four full-time equivalent staff work in the Cabinet Office’s strategic horizons unit, and the unit is in the process of hiring one further member of staff. The functions of the vacant post are currently being performed by a member of the Intelligence Corps (Volunteers). There is no other Cabinet Office division for which horizon scanning is its main mission.