Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Jobs

Monday 12 December 2022 · 8 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister of Defence confirmed that MOD investment supports 219,000 jobs across the UK.
  • Northwood military headquarters employs 1,600 active service personnel crucial for national security.
  • The National Cyber Force establishment in Lancashire is seen as a significant opportunity for job creation and cybersecurity advancement.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Antony Higginbotham
Defence Economy Employment
Context

The question arises from concerns about the impact of defence investments on job creation and support in the UK.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support defence jobs in the UK. Continued high investment in defence should contribute further to economic growth and prosperity across the Union, focusing on industries where Ministry of Defence (MOD) investment supports 219,000 jobs.

Answer from Alex Chalk

The most recent estimate shows that MOD investment supports 219,000 jobs in industries across the United Kingdom. Continued high and focused investment in defence will contribute further to economic growth and prosperity across the Union.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps being taken were not detailed

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Q2 Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire
Defence
Context

Ahead of Armistice Day, the MP was contacted by Northwood military headquarters in his constituency to help organise a tour for submarine service personnel.

Question

I thank the Minister for that answer. Ahead of Armistice Day last month, I was contacted by Northwood military headquarters in my constituency to help organise a tour of this place for the submarine service. Does the Minister agree that during this time of global turbulence we should do all we can to support and champion the members of our armed forces?

Answer from Alex Chalk

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I pay tribute to him for taking the time to visit the Northwood military headquarters. There are 1,600 active service personnel at Northwood HQ, and their work is crucial to protecting our people, territories, values and interests at home and overseas.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address support measures beyond acknowledging the importance of armed forces

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Q3 Antony Higginbotham
Defence
Context

Lancashire is home to the National Cyber Force, bringing opportunities for local people and cyber-security companies.

Question

Thanks to this Secretary of State for Defence, Lancashire is home to the newest part of the armed forces, the National Cyber Force. That brings huge opportunities to our county, not only through the thousands of armed forces personnel who will eventually be stationed there, but with the cyber-security companies that we hope will cluster around the site in the years ahead. Will the Minister meet me to discuss what steps we can take to ensure that the MOD supports the growth of its cyber-cluster, centred on the NCF, and the links between the NCF and local education providers?

Answer from Alex Chalk

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for the close interest he has taken in the establishment of the National Cyber Force in Samlesbury, which has cemented the north-west's position as a key UK cyber-cluster.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to specific steps or meeting details beyond acknowledging the cluster's importance

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Q4 Kevan Jones Lab
Defence
Context

The Defence Committee had representatives from Boeing, awarded £6 billion-worth of contracts but directly employs only 1,600 people in the UK.

Question

The Defence Committee recently had before us representatives from Boeing, which has been awarded some £6 billion-worth of contracts in recent years. A representative confirmed that Boeing directly employs only 1,600 people in the UK. Does the Minister not agree that that is a pretty poor return on the investment and that it certainly would not be the case in the United States?

Answer from Alex Chalk

I met Boeing recently, and we are always keen to see investment in the UK. We are absolutely delighted that, because of the pipeline of investment that the Government have commissioned—from ships to cyber to space—we are investing in jobs and capability, and we are ensuring that we take expertise from wherever it is in the world, securing jobs in this country.

Not addressed: Did not address low employment rate but changed subject to overall investment pipeline

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Q5 John Healey Lab Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Defence Scotland
Context

The Defence Secretary awarded a Spanish firm the contract to build three new Royal Navy fleet support ships, with at least 40% of work going abroad.

Question

We welcome the Government's commitment to job creation; the problem is that they are creating jobs abroad, including in Spain. The Defence Secretary has just picked a Spanish firm to build the Royal Navy's three new fleet support ships. At least 40% of that work will go abroad and the best that the Defence Secretary could tell the Scottish Affairs Committee the other day was that the contractor will 'fully assemble the final ship in a UK yard.' As a result of the Defence Secretary's decision, how many jobs will be created in Spain and not in the UK?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Respectfully, I completely reject the tenor of that question. We should be celebrating the fact that, as a result of the commitment that we are making to UK shipbuilding, there will be 2,000 jobs in the UK and there will be shipbuilding industries in Appledore and in Northern Ireland.

Not addressed: Did not provide specific numbers for Spanish job creation but changed subject to UK job benefits

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Q6 John Healey Lab Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Defence Economy Employment
Context

The prime contractor for a £1.6 billion contract was registered only in May with no trading history, minimal capital, and directors living in Spain.

Question

Well, the Minister told me in answer to a parliamentary question that 'the number of jobs sustained in Spain…is a matter for the contractor'. We could have had 100% of the jobs in Britain. This is a dodgy decision, whichever way we view it. On 21 November, I received confirmation in a written answer that the prime contractor for this £1.6 billion contract will be a company that was registered only in May, with no trading history, with capital of just £10,000 and with two directors, both living in Spain. What guarantees can the Minister give the British taxpayer and the Royal Navy that this contract will not betray British jobs and UK industry?

Answer from Alex Chalk

What I genuinely do not understand is why the Opposition are not welcoming a deal that is bringing more than £70 million into Belfast, securing jobs in the shipbuilding industry in this country and ensuring, by the way, that the base of industrial support goes beyond the traditional Scottish yards to include yards in Belfast and, indeed, in Appledore.

Not addressed: Did not provide guarantees but changed subject to overall economic benefits for UK

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Q7 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Defence Scotland
Context

Babcock secured a £45 million Natural Environmental Research Council's fleet renewal programme. A Tory Government awarded a £1.6 billion contract for three ships to Navantia in Spain, despite Sir John Parker's national shipbuilding strategy emphasizing the benefits of UK yards.

Question

All credit to Babcock for securing NERC's £45 million fleet renewal programme. Of course, Babcock and BAE should be gearing up to do 100% of the fleet solid support ships in a distributed model across the UK, but they are not because this Tory Government awarded a £1.6 billion contract for three ships to Navantia in Spain. When Sir John Parker stressed that MoD should embrace smart procurement, invest in yards and apprenticeships, and commission ships with an eye to export, did the Government realise he was talking about yards in the UK, not in Spain?

Answer from Alex Chalk

We will not take lectures from an SNP Government who put a ferry that has failed to be developed into water in 2017. This Government are investing in broad-based maritime capacity with Type 26 vessels benefiting the Scottish economy, and indeed the British economy, with an additional 2,000 jobs as a result of five commissioned vessels. We are nurturing and supporting UK yards like Govan, Rosyth, Scotstoun.

Not addressed: Did not address whether Sir John Parker's recommendations were meant for UK yards or Spain specifically

How: We Will Not Take Lectures From An Snp Government

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Q8 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Defence Employment Scotland
Context

Scotland loses out when UK work is awarded to Spanish yards, impacting local employment. The Type 26 programme benefits Scottish jobs but lacks the requisite workforce or skills in other UK locations.

Question

Without the requisite workforce or skills, Devon and Belfast are simply Union flag gift-wrapping for Spain's shipbuilding industry. Will this Secretary of State and his ministerial team resign when the bulk of work is delivered in Spain?

Answer from Alex Chalk

It is not true that the bulk will be built in Spain; all assembly and integration will happen in the UK. The Type 26, built in Scotland, secures 1,700 jobs and includes potential for exports. Govan, Rosyth, Scotstoun yards are being nurtured and supported by the Union, meaning Scotland's place is better in the Union.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm whether they will resign if work is done in Spain

How: It Is Important That The House Is Not Misled

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