Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Jobs

Monday 20 November 2023 · 2 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The MOD investment supports over 200,000 jobs in UK industries.
  • Rob Roberts highlighted the need for balanced defence spending across all UK regions.
  • The Minister confirmed defence expenditure in Wales amounts to about 744 million.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rob Roberts
Defence
Context

The question is prompted by a need to address regional disparities in defence-related employment opportunities and investment across different regions of the United Kingdom.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support defence jobs across the UK?

Answer from James Cartlidge

The most recent estimate shows that MOD investment supports more than 200,000 jobs in industries across the UK, and continued investment in defence along with the changes we continue to make as part of our defence and security industrial strategy are contributing to further economic growth and prosperity across the Union.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about ensuring balance in defence jobs and investments across regions was not directly addressed, focusing instead on general benefits from MOD investment.

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Q2 Rob Roberts
Defence
Context

The question arises from the desire to ensure that defence-related economic opportunities are equally accessible to constituents across different parts of the United Kingdom, with a particular focus on north-east Wales.

Question

I thank the Minister for his answer. As a Member from north-east Wales, I am interested in how we promote defence spending in all regions of the United Kingdom, meaning that there is some balance, with defence jobs and investment not concentrated in the same part of England every time. What can the Minister do to assure my constituents in Delyn that they will have as much opportunity as those in places such as the south-west of England?

Answer from James Cartlidge

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. Obviously, we strongly want to see defence expenditure benefiting every part of the Union. I can confirm expenditure with industry in Wales amounting to about £744 million. Just to reassure him and show him how importantly we regard Wales, the week before last I heard I held my small and medium-sized enterprise forum in Cardiff at Space Forge, a brilliant Welsh SME that we are supporting with half a million pounds of funding to develop in-space manufacturing of semiconductors. That is a strong example of how we are supporting Welsh SMEs in the defence sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about assuring constituents was not directly addressed, focusing instead on highlighting one instance of support for a Welsh SME and general commitment to Wales.

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