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Question
Does the Minister agree that Germany’s change of position on Typhoon exports underlines the strength of our bilateral relationship with the Germans and the welcome stiffening of their military disposition more broadly, given the common threat we face?
Minister reply
All Eurofighter nations have signed off this export, including Germany. The Trinity House agreement between the UK and Germany provides a huge amount of opportunity.
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Question
Can the Minister confirm whether either Qatar or Oman will be buying replacement Typhoons as part of this deal?
Minister reply
The MOD has not provided specific details on Qatari and Omani involvement in purchasing replacement Typhoons.
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Question
Does the Minister plan to order any further Typhoons for the RAF to replace retired tranche 1 Typhoons?
Minister reply
No specific plans have been announced yet regarding ordering additional Typhoons for the RAF.
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Question
When will E-Scan radar be in service for the RAF's Typhoon fleet?
Minister reply
The MOD has not provided a specific timeline for when E-Scan radar will enter service for the RAF’s Typhoons.
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Question
Can he confirm or deny reports in The Telegraph that he is demanding that the armed forces make in-year cuts this year of £2.6 billion?
Minister reply
The Minister did not provide a direct response to the specific question about in-year cuts but instead emphasised the positive aspects of the Typhoon deal.
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Question
This deal supports 20,000 jobs in the south-west. What steps are the Government taking to support skills across the whole defence sector and particularly in areas like space, satellite and drone technology?
Minister reply
The Government's £773 million package under the Defence Industrial Strategy includes opening defence technical excellence colleges to boost the skills base needed for advanced capabilities. We challenge all defence companies to grow their workforce skills for resilience and direct more of our increasing UK defence spend at British firms.
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Question
Can the Minister confirm whether he or the Prime Minister raised concerns about Mayor İmamoğlu’s continued detention while concluding this deal, and will the Government commit to EU Defence Agency membership for joined-up rearmament efforts?
Minister reply
It is not for the Ministry of Defence to comment on individual legal cases in other countries. Our defence engagement with Türkiye focuses on shared security interests within NATO. However, I will ask the Foreign Office to update him on this matter. On EU cooperation, we are actively working towards closer ties but specific commitments like joining the European Defence Agency are still under negotiation.
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Question
The workforce in Warton and Samlesbury are thrilled with this deal. Can you prioritise securing more Typhoon orders for UK manufacturers to secure jobs into the future?
Minister reply
I appreciate my hon. Friend's support for the Typhoon order, which is a significant achievement against global competition. We will continue promoting British industry and products internationally, focusing on opportunities that enhance interoperability with our allies and support ongoing security objectives.
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Question
Following this announcement, what next steps are the Government planning to take to further strengthen the UK’s defence relationship with Türkiye?
Minister reply
The partnership extends beyond just the jet deal to ongoing support and training arrangements. We will explore more military-to-military cooperation opportunities in alignment with NATO security objectives, especially focusing on Türkiye's strategic importance as a gateway to the Black Sea and Middle East.
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Question
Will the Minister outline what these contracts mean for opportunities for apprenticeships for young people?
Minister reply
We aim to expand apprenticeship opportunities in defence through initiatives like those at BAE Systems, where apprentices gain valuable skills for careers in national security. Opportunities are available not only to school leavers but also to individuals transitioning from military service.
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Question
As a new MP pushing for Typhoon orders at the Warton site, I welcome this announcement and am touched by your visit last week. What are the implications of this deal for job security in Fylde and Lancashire?
Minister reply
This deal is crucial for securing jobs and maintaining our sovereign capability to build military aircraft. It aligns with my efforts and those of previous Ministers on both sides of the House, ensuring long-term benefits for communities like yours.
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Question
I welcome this deal, which is the biggest of its kind in a generation. In Calder Valley—or valve valley—we have businesses that want to play a bigger role but feel locked out of defence procurement and supply chains. Can the Minister ensure that the procurement system is more open and competitive so that communities like mine can benefit?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue. We aim to increase direct MOD spend with SMEs by £2.5 billion by 2028 and are establishing an office for small business growth at the start of next year to help SMEs access MOD contracts more easily.
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Question
I commend the Government on this deal, which will secure British jobs and maintain our expertise. However, I am disappointed that the press release did not credit my constituents at GE Aerospace who have supported the programme since its inception. Will the Minister recognise their contribution?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for championing his workforce and am happy to work with him to thank all those in the supply chain, including companies big and small, for their important contributions.
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Question
Many UK manufacturers are part of international groups that can transfer profits overseas via internal pricing mechanisms. Can the Minister confirm whether such profit-shifting mechanisms are assessed and dissuaded in UK defence procurement?
Minister reply
I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this further, but I will ensure that all contracts return value to the taxpayer and that intellectual property and profits should be held in the UK where possible.
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Question
The news is welcome, but the future is unmanned. Can the Minister confirm what UK equity has been secured in the drone joint venture between Leonardo and Baykar signed in June?
Minister reply
I am happy to write to the right hon. Gentleman about the precise details of that deal. The future involves crewed, uncrewed, and autonomous platforms, with our platforms having the ability to spiral develop into uncrewed and autonomous systems.
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Question
I took part in the armed forces parliamentary scheme this year and visited a NATO airbase in Poland where I saw Typhoons scramble to protect us from Russian aircraft. Does he agree that it is shameful and wrong to suggest that NATO’s presence was provocative to Putin?
Minister reply
Let me be clear: our national security would not be helped by Putin-friendly policies or politicians. Being Putin-friendly is certainly un-British, given the threats Russia poses to Ukraine and our NATO allies.
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Question
Türkiye was removed from the F-35 programme after acquiring the S-400 Russian air defence system. Can he confirm whether Türkiye has agreed to return the S-400 and if not, is he confident that our technology will not be similarly at risk?
Minister reply
I am comfortable that we have adequate measures in place, butTürkiye does not participate in the F-35 programme. We aim to ensure that procurement opportunities face west rather than east, which could improve NATO’s security.
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Question
I welcome the Secretary of State’s statement and the 8,000 jobs in the east of England resulting from this deal. Does he agree that this demonstrates the Government’s commitment to being a key NATO ally, which will keep residents safe?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for his support and encourage all parliamentarians to champion defence opportunities for industries big and small in their constituencies.
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Question
Having met with representatives from the workforce at Warton earlier, I recognise that maintaining crucial skills was balanced on a knife edge. Given the Turkish order will be Tranche 3 or 4 and specified with ECRS MK2, what impact will this have on the timeline for enhancing our Typhoon fleet?
Minister reply
The Turkish order will not adversely affect the timeline for the enhancement programme of our Typhoon fleet. We aim to maintain staff levels to support both projects.
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Question
Welcoming the Typhoon export deal, how satisfied is the Minister with the integrity of the UK’s arms export regime to states in eastern Europe and the middle east?
Minister reply
The risk of diversion from some locations is real, but before any arms exports licence is agreed by DBT, there is input from not just the MOD but other sources across Government to assess the risk of diversion or the equipment being lost or used in a way that does not accord with international humanitarian law. Where we think there are such risks, we do not grant those export licences.
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Question
Welcoming today’s statement on the Typhoon deal, did the Prime Minister discuss Turkey being weaned off Russian oil and gas during his meeting with Turkish President in Ankara?
Minister reply
There are a number of nations across Europe and Asia with complex energy dependencies on Russia. This Government and our partner nations have been very clear that there needs to be a fast and smooth transition away from using Russian oil and gas, which we continue to work on with our allies.