Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Procurement: SMEs

Monday 3 November 2025 · 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 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Sonia Kumar inquired about steps to ensure SMEs in Dudley have opportunities to bid for defence procurement contracts.
  • The Minister highlighted the potential to direct more of the increasing defence budget towards British firms, particularly SMEs.
  • Sir Gavin Williamson asked about the MOD's plans to work more closely with universities in the west midlands to support defence.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sonia Kumar Lab Dudley
Defence Business & Trade
Context

Sonia Kumar highlighted the importance of SMEs at the Pensnett estate, a large industrial area with nearly 200 businesses ranging from plumbing to steelworks.

Question

In Dudley, we have the Pensnett estate, one of the largest industrial estates in Europe. It is home to nearly 200 businesses, including a variety of SMEs, ranging from plumbing to steelworks. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure that SMEs in Dudley have the time and the space to bid for contracts? Will the Minister agree to hold a roundtable on defence on the Pensnett estate?

Answer from The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard)

I am grateful for the time that my hon. Friend spent talking to me about SME potential in Dudley and across the west midlands last week. There is a huge opportunity to direct more of the increasing defence budget at British firms, and in particular SMEs. There is huge potential with the skills base in the west midlands. I would be happy to take my hon. Friend up on her offer of visiting Dudley and getting those businesses more involved in the defence supply chain.

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Q2 Gavin Williamson Con Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge
Education Defence
Context

Sir Gavin Williamson noted the presence of mid-sized and large businesses in support of defence but also highlighted research universities' role in the west midlands.

Question

The Minister has heard what an amazing set of mid-sized and large businesses we have in the west midlands supporting defence, but we also have some amazing research universities. What more is the MOD looking at doing to work more closely with our universities, getting them geared towards supporting our move to rearming this country?

Answer from The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard)

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for raising the important role that universities play. In the defence industrial strategy, published a few months ago, we set out our ambition to create a defence universities alliance, bringing together the very best cutting-edge research that is being done in our universities. We are working with Universities UK to put that together, and there will be further announcements in short order, but I hope that the universities on the right hon. Gentleman’s patch will participate so that we can grow our economy and keep our nation safe.

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