Defence Sector Economic Growth 2025-11-03
2025-11-03
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Skill shortages remain in the defence sector despite its role as an engine for growth. The question addresses concerns about high-quality apprenticeships.
I draw attention to my declaration in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests in respect of the GMB, a defence manufacturing trade union. Defence is an engine for growth, but skill shortages remain. What steps are being taken to increase the number of high-quality apprentices?
Defence is one of the largest apprenticeship employers in the country, with over 24,000 apprentices. The Navy is No. 2 and the RAF is No. 4, and I am proud that the Army has been named the No. 1 apprenticeship employer. We are doing even more than that with £182 million going into skills, and we are working with our trade union colleagues—from both the GMB, of which I am proud to be a member, and Unite—alongside industries big and small, as part of the Defence Industrial Joint Council, so we can motor our economic development and create more jobs in defence.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question explores how underutilised Ministry of Defence land and assets can be better used to support local SMEs, energy security, and innovation.
How can the defence sector make better use of underutilised MOD land and assets to contribute to innovative models of business such as the community energy projects that, alongside initiatives such as the South Yorkshire growth deal, can contribute to local SMEs and energy security?
We are looking at the 1% of Britain that we own as a Department to see how we can not only deliver defence outputs and build more houses—with 100,000 houses identified in the defence housing strategy—but support environmental output and greater industrial opportunities for the private sector. I am very happy to meet her to discuss that further.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps were not detailed beyond general intent to look at MOD land use, though a meeting was offered.
Response accuracy