Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Jobs: Scotland

Monday 16 March 2026 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Scotland defence growth deal was launched to increase defence jobs in Scotland.
  • The deal includes investment in skills and support for small and medium-sized enterprises in defence.
  • The Scottish Government is criticized for not investing in defence skills when given the opportunity.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Douglas McAllister Lab West Dunbartonshire
Defence Scotland
Context

The question stems from an initiative to boost defence employment in Scotland, aiming to leverage the country's resources and expertise.

Question

What steps he is taking to increase the number of defence jobs in Scotland. Last Thursday, I was proud to launch the Scotland defence growth deal, which will increase the number of defence jobs in Scotland, invest in skills and make it easier for businesses—particularly small and medium-sized enterprises—to do business in defence.

Answer from Luke Pollard

Last Thursday, I was proud to launch the Scotland defence growth deal, which will increase the number of defence jobs in Scotland, invest in skills and make it easier for businesses—particularly small and medium-sized enterprises—to do business in defence. Alongside our commitment to increasing naval shipbuilding in Scotland, this will increase the number of high-skilled, high-wage jobs, and make defence an engine for growth in Scotland.

Answered
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Q2 Douglas McAllister Lab West Dunbartonshire
Defence Scotland
Context

This question is in response to the announcement of a £50 million defence growth deal, aimed at increasing employment and economic activity in Scotland's defence sector.

Question

I very much welcome last week's announcement of a £50 million defence growth deal for Scotland. It will make Scotland an engine for defence growth. Be it through building ships on the Clyde or new engineering and innovation facilities, it will create good, well-paid jobs for my West Dunbartonshire constituents and people right across Scotland, from the west coast to the east coast. Does the Minister agree that after two decades of SNP failure, it is time for a Scottish Labour Government who will actually back Scottish defence jobs?

Answer from Luke Pollard

I do indeed. It is noticeable that when the Scottish Government have had an opportunity to invest in defence skills, they have chosen not to. They chose not to when it came to the welding centre on the Clyde, but the Defence Secretary stepped in. Alongside the Secretary of State for Scotland, we have issued a challenge to the Scottish Government to match our commitment to creating two defence technical excellence colleges, one for the east coast and one for the west coast.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific agreement on supporting Scottish Labour government to back defence jobs was not directly confirmed beyond acknowledging a need for investment in skills and challenging the SNP's stance.

How: Under Review, Looking At This

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Q3 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Defence Scotland
Context

The question addresses a disparity between the original £50 million announced for Scotland's defence sector compared to what was actually allocated, raising concerns about fairness and additional funding requirements.

Question

There was a pork-barrel stench when the first defence growth deal was awarded to the Minister's constituency. Over six months later, he has finally got around to making an award to Scotland, but for Scotland, the £50 million has turned into £20 million—and he wants the Scottish Government to foot the bill. Can he be clear with the House today about why, while there are no strings attached to the £50 million for the Welsh defence growth deal, there are strings attached to the Scottish defence growth deal, and does he expect the Scottish Government to top up the £20 million that he has allocated, so that it becomes the £50 million that every other area has got?

Answer from Luke Pollard

This is just the politics of grievance from the SNP. This Labour Government have allocated £50 million to support growth in Scotland, including £5 million for the Arrol Gibb campus in Rosyth and—[Interruption.]

Not addressed: The specifics about funding discrepancies and whether the Scottish government should top up the allocation were not directly addressed.

How: Politics Of Grievance, Not Addressing Specific Ask

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