Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Industrial Base

Monday 3 November 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 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK Defence Innovation has been established with at least 400 million ringfenced in the Budget to support firm growth and economic security.
  • The Ministry of Defence is fostering collaboration with small and medium-sized firms, including those in non-defence sectors, to enhance innovation.
  • The west midlands received 1.7 billion in Ministry of Defence spending in the last year, the highest level ever recorded.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Russell Lab Congleton
Defence Business & Trade
Context

Avocet, an innovative manufacturing company based in Holmes Chapel in Sarah Russell's constituency, is looking to grow its business by diversifying into supplying components and materials for drone battery production. The company has expressed the need for improved support and guidance from the Government.

Question

I recently visited Avocet, an innovative manufacturing company based in Holmes Chapel in my constituency. It is looking to grow its business by diversifying into supplying components and materials for drone battery production. However, it has expressed to me the potential for improved support and guidance from the Government in order to break into and thrive in this competitive international market. What steps is the Department taking to support British manufacturing businesses such as Avocet? Does he agree that helping these organisations will unlock vital opportunities for economic growth?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

I do indeed, and my hon. Friend is right. Firms such as that in her constituency hold the future of our security and our economic growth. That is why we have set up UK Defence Innovation and ringfenced it with at least £400 million in the Budget this year, with fresh freedoms. We have also doubled to £4 billion the amount of money that we will invest in British drones and autonomy over this Parliament.

Answered
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Q2 Gurinder Singh Josan Lab Smethwick
Defence Science & Technology Business & Trade
Context

A&M EDM Ltd, a specialist engineering company working with aerospace, automotive, Formula 1 and other industries based in Gurinder Singh Josan's constituency, was testing a drone engine that it had designed and built.

Question

A key ingredient in strengthening the industrial base is the innovation that our companies bring to the table. A&M EDM Ltd in my constituency is a specialist engineering company working with aerospace, automotive, Formula 1 and other industries. When I visited recently, it was testing a drone engine that it had designed and built, with most parts being produced in house. What routes are available to companies such as A&M EDM Ltd to bring that innovation, specialist engineering capacity, and research and development ability to the defence industrial supply chain?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

UK Defence Innovation has been set up to transform defence’s innovation system. One of its priorities is to foster collaboration with small and medium-sized firms in fields beyond defence, just like A&M EDM Ltd in my hon. Friend’s constituency. I have set out my determination to see Britain become the best place to start, grow and invest in new defence companies.

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Q3 Antonia Bance Lab Tipton and Wednesbury
Defence
Context

Babcock International, based in Walsall near Antonia Bance's constituency, makes armoured cars. The company has been meeting with officials to discuss future opportunities.

Question

It is always good to follow another Member for the Black Country. I was recently very pleased to meet with Babcock International, which is based in Walsall, just over the M6 from my constituency, where it makes armoured cars. Can the Secretary of State comment on future opportunities for defence manufacturing in the Black Country and the wider west midlands?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

The west midlands has a very proud tradition of being at the heart of British invention and engineering, and it has huge potential for the future of defence engineering and invention. In the last year, the Ministry of Defence has spent £1.7 billion directly into the region, which is the highest level for the last 10 years. The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport (Luke Pollard), met with the Mayor of the West Midlands just last week to discuss what other opportunities there may be for firms such as that and areas such as that of my hon. Friend in the west midlands.

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Q4 Luke Pollard Labour (Co-op) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Defence
Context

Multiple media reports suggest the Ministry of Defence is asking for £2.6 billion in cuts this financial year.

Question

The Minister knows that a strong defence industrial base cannot be maintained without significantly increasing defence spending. Given recent media reports stating that his Department has asked the armed forces to make cuts of £2.6 billion this financial year, can he tell us what will be cut to find the money?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

We have increased defence investment by a record amount since the end of the cold war and three years earlier than the Conservatives’ unfunded plans proposed. Since the election, we have signed over 1,000 major contracts, 84% of them with British firms. We have brought £1.7 billion of foreign direct investment into defence and won export deals that the Conservatives failed to secure. For example, on Monday, the Prime Minister and I signed an £8 billion deal with Turkey for 20 British Typhoons, which will support 20,000 jobs in the wider supply chain.

Not addressed: Specific cuts to find the £2.6 billion savings were not addressed; instead, the Secretary of State discussed investment and export deals.

How: Changed Subject, Discussed Unrelated Achievements

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