Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Helicopter Manufacturing and Supply Chains

Monday 21 February 2022 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department acknowledges the need to manage risk and ensure resilience in helicopter manufacturing and supply chains.
  • Minister assures that the social value of UK suppliers and manufacturers will be included and priced into future contracts.
  • Minister plans to seek procurement of an existing platform for new medium helicopters, aiming for service by 2025.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Matheson Lab
Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from concerns about maintaining UK's helicopter manufacturing capabilities and supply chains.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure the resilience of helicopter manufacturing and supply chains in the UK?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

We recognise the need to manage risk and ensure resilience in our manufacturing and supply chains, including rotary wing. Through past and current investment in rotary wing capabilities, including Wildcat and Apache, and upgrades to Merlin and Chinook, the UK industrial base remains well placed to support existing and future helicopter platforms, and continues to be a market of great interest to our industrial partners.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps being taken currently for resilience in helicopter manufacturing.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Grahame Morris Lab Easington
Defence
Context

Continued from previous exchange, seeks clarity on the new Puma-replacement helicopters' manufacturing and assembly location.

Question

Further to my Defence question of 15 November, when I asked the Minister what steps his Department was taking to ensure the resilience of the helicopter supply chain in the UK, will he now assure the House that, whoever wins the contract, the new Puma-replacement helicopters will be both manufactured and assembled here in the United Kingdom?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

As we and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State have said, the competition for the new medium helicopter contract, to which I believe the hon. Gentleman refers, will be launched very shortly. Given the skills and capabilities in this country and the nature of that competition, I am confident that a very substantial amount of benefit will flow to the UK as a result of that procurement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide assurance on manufacturing and assembly location for Puma replacement helicopters.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Chris Matheson Lab
Business & Trade
Context

Continued from previous exchanges, seeks to ensure the contract reflects benefits for UK manufacturers and suppliers.

Question

We do not want to get into another situation like the one with the fleet solid support ships. Will the Government ensure that the value to the UK of placing the contracts with UK suppliers and UK manufacturers is included and priced into the deal and the contract?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

The hon. Gentleman makes a fair point. It is absolutely critical that we ensure that the social value associated with the contract is fully and fairly reflected in the tendering process. He has my assurance that we will do that and, as I said, it will not be long before he will be able to see more on that subject.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q4 James Gray Con
Defence
Context

Discusses the strong partnership between UK and US in military procurement, highlighting Boeing's significant role.

Question

I entirely agree with others who have spoken about the importance of British manufacturers producing these things, but we have a very strong relationship with the United States of America and I welcome the fact that we have ordered 50 new Apache attack helicopters and are upgrading our Chinooks. Does the Minister acknowledge, however, that Boeing UK is now the fourth or fifth largest supplier to the MOD and that, as a British manufacturer, it is hoping to export goods—the new aeroplanes—to America soon?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

It is indeed, and my hon. Friend is absolutely right that Boeing is a strategic partner of ours. It also invests heavily, and I pay tribute to its work to enhance apprenticeships and its academic work, including in the far north of Scotland from our base at Lossie. It is an important strategic partner that brings value to the UK.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details on Boeing's export plans or future military procurements.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q5 Chris Evans Labour (Co-op) Caerphilly
Business & Trade
Context

Inquires about future plans to ensure long-term investment and development in the UK helicopter manufacturing sector.

Question

What are the Minister's plans to ensure that there is long-term investment in the UK helicopter industry, particularly in high-value engineering design and manufacturing jobs; apprenticeships; and enduring skills development in this vital industry?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

On the NMH, to which the hon. Gentleman refers, it is likely, given the timescale—we want to have the helicopters in service in 2025 or as close to that as possible—that we will be seeking to procure an existing platform. However, that absolutely does not gainsay the fact that we will want to see real social value created in terms of engineering skills and capabilities in this country. That will be part of the competition.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific plans for long-term investment or development strategies.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)