Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Industrial Base

Monday 8 September 2025 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK's largest drone manufacturer in Ukraine invests 200 million in a UK factory, creating 500 jobs.
  • BAE Systems aviation centre in Rochester is highlighted for its investment in graduates and apprentices.
  • Defence industrial strategy includes 182 million investment in defence technical education colleges.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steve Yemm Lab Mansfield
Ukraine Defence Brexit Business & Trade
Context

Last week, Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturer invested £200 million in a new UK factory, creating 500 jobs. This highlights the potential of foreign companies investing in Britain's skilled workforce.

Question

I welcome last week’s news that Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturer has invested £200 million in a new factory in the UK, creating 500 jobs. This demonstrates the strength of our partnership with our Ukrainian friends and the confidence that international companies have in Britain’s skilled workforce. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of foreign direct investment in the UK’s defence industrial base?

Answer from Luke Pollard (The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence)

I thank my hon. Friend for celebrating the investment we are seeing. Foreign direct investment is a really important component part of building our ecosystem for defence industries. Britain is the very best place to invest in defence industries, with a talented population, increasing skills, increasing defence spending and a military that is respected the world over.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide an assessment or specific impact analysis of foreign direct investment on the UK's defence industrial base

How: Broad Statement About Importance Of Fdi Without Specifics

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Q2 Tristan Osborne Lab Chatham and Aylesford
Defence
Context

Medway has a proud tradition with its former dockyard. The BAE Systems aviation centre in Rochester recently hosted the MP to see its graduates and apprentices.

Question

Medway has a proud tradition with its former dockyard in Chatham. Last week, I visited the BAE Systems aviation centre in Rochester in my constituency to see its graduates and apprentices. What more can be done to support graduates and apprentices in defence? Will the Minister take the opportunity to visit the BAE Systems site to look at that work in person?

Answer from Luke Pollard (The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence)

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for championing the BAE site in Rochester. We want more defence companies to invest more in skills. In the defence industrial strategy we are publishing today, we will not only make further investments in defence technical education colleges—with £182 million to deliver that—but provide additional support for school-based activities and university partnerships. I would be very happy to come to Rochester to see for myself the amazing work of the apprentices.

Answered
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Q3 Vikki Slade Lib Dem Mid Dorset and North Poole
Defence Economy Business & Trade
Context

A precision engineering firm involved in tooling in the defence industry faced challenges in securing defence contracts, noting a lack of priority compared to French companies.

Question

Shortly before recess, I visited a small precision engineering firm that is involved in tooling in the defence industry. It shared the challenges it faces in looking at defence contracts and explained that there seems to be no priority for UK businesses, unlike in France where French businesses are prioritised. I am sure the Minister agrees that defence investment boosts growth across our constituencies. Will he meet me and the business to understand how we can boost British businesses in that sector?

Answer from Luke Pollard (The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence)

To a Minister just promoted by the son of a toolmaker in the reshuffle, tooling is a very appropriate question. We are targeting more of the increased defence budget at British companies, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, with the development of the new defence SME hub, which will allow more SMEs to access the defence contracts we are providing as part of our growing renewal of our armed forces. I would be very happy to meet the hon. Lady to discuss her constituency business.

Answered
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Q4 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Defence Northern Ireland
Context

Thales has received significant contract work from the Ministry of Defence, leading to job creation. The MP asks if similar opportunities exist for other companies.

Question

I thank the Minister, who is a regular visitor to Northern Ireland, for his answers. Thales has received significant contract work from the Ministry of Defence, with 200 jobs coming out of that, and Spirit AeroSystems has also achieved some of that, with extra jobs, but many other defence companies could also take advantage. Will the Minister confirm that those other companies will have the same opportunities?

Answer from Luke Pollard (The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence)

I am very happy to say that we are seeking growth in defence businesses in every part of the United Kingdom. When we launch the defence industrial strategy very shortly, I hope the hon. Gentleman will be able to see one of the new defence growth zones in Northern Ireland providing opportunities for young people to start new good careers in defence. Also, companies that might not think of themselves as defence companies at the moment will be able not just to sell to UK armed forces, but to take export opportunities selling to our allies around the world.

Answered
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