Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Departmental Spending: High-skilled Jobs and UK Economy

Monday 7 December 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Ministry of Defence provides around 20,000 apprenticeships in the United Kingdom at any given time.
  • The Government are reviewing the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 to tailor defence procurement regulations to better meet the UK's needs.
  • The Government's record defence spending commitments mean there will be funding for the future combat air system, benefiting the north-west aerospace industry.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Logan
Defence Economy Employment
Context

The question aims to understand the steps taken by the Ministry of Defence to ensure its spending supports both high-skilled job creation and broader economic growth in the UK.

Question

What steps he is taking to ensure that his Department's spending supports (a) high-skilled jobs and (b) the wider UK economy?

Answer from Ben Wallace

The Ministry of Defence is one of the largest providers of apprenticeships in the United Kingdom, with around 20,000 on a programme at any one time. We are investing in cutting-edge capabilities and research and development with the future combat air system technology initiative, resulting in more than 1,800 highly skilled engineers in 300 companies throughout the UK. The MOD spent £19.2 billion with UK industry and commerce in 2018-19, safeguarding and supporting thousands of jobs throughout the UK.

Answered
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Q2 David Amess Con
Defence Brexit
Context

The MP seeks clarification on the implications for UK jobs arising from the conclusion of the EU transition period, particularly concerning amendments to procurement rules.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend confirm what impact the end of the transition period will have on our ability to amend defence procurement regulations to support UK jobs?

Answer from Ben Wallace

The Government are using the opportunity offered by leaving the EU to develop defence and security procurement regulations tailored to better meet the UK's needs. We have embarked on a comprehensive review of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 with a view to improving the pace and agility of acquisition.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific impact on job support was not addressed.

How: Under Review

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Q3 Mark Logan
Defence
Context

The MP inquires about good news for Bolton and its constituents, especially those connected to the MBDA high-tech manufacturing facility that was inaugurated two years ago.

Question

Two years ago, MBDA's high-tech manufacturing facility was officially launched in Bolton. As the Secretary of State for Defence said at the time, we cannot have prosperity without security. What good news can my right hon. Friend share with Boltonians in the run-up to Christmas and beyond?

Answer from Ben Wallace

I think the best news for Boltonians and fellow Lancashire constituents such as mine is that the Government's record defence spending commitments for the integrated review mean that there will be money for the future combat air system, one of the mainstays of north-west aerospace. That is good news for MBDA in Bolton, good news for BAE, good news for the supply chain and good news for the thousands of people in the north-west who work in aerospace, and that is because the Government have invested in the future capabilities of sovereign aerospace.

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