Written questions by Anderson.

What steps he is taking to ensure that training curricula for the new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges align with capability requirements identified in the Strategic Defence Review.

Defence Technical Excellence Colleges will be recognised for their high-quality provision, including in training curricula, for skills important to the defence sector, including those identified through the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy. We will work closely with industry to identify their skills needs, including through the newly established Defence Industrial Joint Council.

Whether he has established a (a) monitoring and (b) evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness of (i) Defence Growth Deals and (ii) Defence Technical Excellence Colleges.

Each Defence Growth Deal will be bespoke to their location and we will work with devolved and local Governments, industry and academia to shape the Deals in a way that is best for that area. This includes developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks that align with the Government’s Plan for Change. The Department for Education, working with the Ministry of Defence, Defence Technical Excellence Colleges and partners in the skills system, will design a monitoring and evaluation framework that helps support successful delivery of key objectives. This includes boosting defence related skills provision and ensuring clear pathways into defence sector jobs; high quality teaching practice and curricula in defence-related courses; and leveraging employer engagement and investment in defence-skills provision.

What estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of the Defence Industrial Strategy on (a) regional and (b) sectoral employment figures in (i) cyber-security, (ii) submarine engineering, (iii) aerospace and space systems and (iv) other technical sub-sectors.

The Ministry of Defence has not released specific public estimates regarding the regional and sectoral employment impacts of the Defence Industrial Strategy. However, the Defence Industrial Strategy focuses on creating high-skilled jobs and fostering growth in key technical sub-sectors such as cyber-security, submarine engineering, aerospace, other technical sub-sectors and space systems, with the aim of bolstering the UK’s defence industrial base and supporting regional economic development.

How much he plans to spend annually on research and development associated with the (a) Future Combat Air System and (b) Global Combat Air Programme in the next five years.

The forthcoming ten-year Defence Investment Plan will outline the Department’s spending plans in line with the Strategic Defence Review and Spending Review outcomes.

With reference to the pres notice entitled New Storm Shadow and missile cooperation to boost jobs as UK and France reboot defence relationship, published on 9 July 2025, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK-based defence supply chain SMEs are able to bid for contracts in relation to the UK-France missile co-operation agreement.

Due to the nature of these procurements a number of exemptions from the procurement regulations will be applied, meaning that associated opportunities will be restricted, with a number of contracts being awarded single source. That said UK based companies within the Storm Shadow supply chain, stand to benefit from this new agreement. The Government’s forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy will continue to examine how best to prioritise and promote UK based businesses across current and future Defence capabilities.

What mechanisms are in place to monitor the progress of joint UK-EU initiatives on space security agreed in the UK-EU Summit Common Understanding.

The UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership provides a framework for cooperation on key issues, including space security. As implementation plans develop, progress will be monitored through structured dialogue and consultation mechanisms. The UK and EU will cooperate on space-related security issues, including through multilateral fora such as the United Nations and within the framework of EU-NATO cooperation. The Partnership will help promote norms, rules, and principles of responsible behaviour in outer space.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-EU security and defence partnership on the interoperability of UK armed forces with EU member states.

The UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership aims to support enhanced interoperability in ways that deliver mutual benefit and reinforce the European contribution to NATO. The Partnership will support and complement our commitment to NATO — which remains the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security — and to the UK’s strong bilateral defence relationships with both EU member states and third country allies. It strengthens our ability to act jointly where interests align, while preserving the UK’s strategic autonomy and global defence posture.

What steps his Department is taking to facilitate the UK defence industry’s access to the EU’s €150 billion defence loan programme, in the context of the UK-EU security and defence partnership.

As this is a critical moment for the security of our continent, we welcome European efforts to increase defence spending, through the ReArm initiative including the EU’s €150 billion loan programme, also known as SAFE (Security Action for Europe). The UK and the EU have agreed an ambitious new Security and Defence Partnership as part of a wider package of the UK-EU reset. Crucially, the Security and Defence Partnership means the UK now meets the criteria for discussing participation in common procurement under SAFE, which could provide new opportunities for our defence industry. Recognising the important role that the UK’s defence industry plays already for European security, we have set out our ambition to swiftly explore the potential for enhanced cooperation through the proposed SAFE instrument, as soon as the EU’s necessary processes are complete.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-EU security and defence partnership on the defence industry.

As this is a critical moment for the security of our continent, we welcome European efforts to increase defence spending, through the ReArm initiative including the EU’s €150 billion loan programme, also known as SAFE (Security Action for Europe). The UK and the EU have agreed an ambitious new Security and Defence Partnership as part of a wider package of the UK-EU reset. Crucially, the Security and Defence Partnership means the UK now meets the criteria for discussing participation in common procurement under SAFE, which could provide new opportunities for our defence industry. Recognising the important role that the UK’s defence industry plays already for European security, we have set out our ambition to swiftly explore the potential for enhanced cooperation through the proposed SAFE instrument, as soon as the EU’s necessary processes are complete.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the UK’s involvement in the EU’s defence industrial programmes align with the UK’s strategic defence objectives.

The Strategic Defence Review recognises that international partnerships are crucial for both innovation and collective security. The Security and Defence Partnership with the EU complements our NATO first approach as we continue to support alignment between NATO and the EU. We are also producing a new Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), which will allow us to develop a modern defence industrial base that is able to better support our, and our allies', security whilst also helping to drive economic growth. The Defence Industrial Strategy will set out how we will continue to work with key partners, including through the EU, and pursue new industrial ventures to ensure our industry continues to innovate.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of skilled workers for the defence manufacturing sector.

This Government recognises the critical importance of supporting the defence sector in order to benefit from the skilled workforce needed to sustain a vibrant, innovative and competitive defence industrial base.Defence supports Defence Industry apprenticeships and graduate opportunities, including national apprenticeship awards, National Apprenticeship Week, the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, and university careers fairs.There is also ongoing engagement between defence and industry to address sector-wide issues, including recruitment and retention challenges. A dedicated joint MOD-industry working group is collaborating to identify and address skills gaps, including around UK defence sector STEM challenges.

What steps his Department is taking to support (a) apprenticeships and (b) skills development in the defence manufacturing sector.

This Government recognises the critical importance of supporting the defence sector in order to benefit from the skilled workforce needed to sustain a vibrant, innovative and competitive defence industrial base.Defence supports Defence Industry apprenticeships and graduate opportunities, including national apprenticeship awards, National Apprenticeship Week, the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, and university careers fairs.There is also ongoing engagement between defence and industry to address sector-wide issues, including recruitment and retention challenges. A dedicated joint MOD-industry working group is collaborating to identify and address skills gaps, including around UK defence sector STEM challenges.

What steps his Department is taking to expand UK-based production of critical components for defence equipment.

This Government is committed to supporting UK based manufacturers, including producers of the vital components used within our defence programmes, and will bring forward a new Defence Industrial Strategy later this year to align the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy. The Government has been clear that it will use the additional investment in defence announced by the Prime Minister on 25 February 2025 to maximise jobs, growth, skills and innovation in the UK. This investment in defence will protect UK citizens from threats and also create a secure and stable environment in which businesses can thrive, supporting the Government’s number one mission to deliver economic growth.

What steps his Department is taking to support the growth of UK-base defence (a) start-ups and (b) small businesses.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), including start-ups, make a vital contribution to economic growth and are a valuable source of technical innovation in defence. This is recognised in the Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, as well as the Department’s Social Value policies. We work with our largest suppliers through a network of their SME Champions, trade associations and SME representatives to ensure that SMEs have fair access to opportunities in our supply chain and that our prime contractors are adopting policies, such as fair payment practices, that support small businesses working in defence. We have announced the launch of a new hub to provide SMEs with better access to the defence supply chain and have committed to set direct SME spending targets for the Ministry of Defence by June this year, ensuring that thousands of small businesses in the UK will benefit from the decision to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. This is a chance for small, often family-owned, firms to bring their innovations, agility and their expert workforce to the task of strengthening Britain’s defences.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the levels of UK-produced components in defence procurement programmes.

This Government is committed to supporting UK based manufacturers, including producers of the vital components used within our defence programmes, and will bring forward a new Defence Industrial Strategy later this year to align the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy. The Government has been clear that it will use the additional investment in defence announced by the Prime Minister on 25 February 2025 to maximise jobs, growth, skills and innovation in the UK. This investment in defence will protect UK citizens from threats and also create a secure and stable environment in which businesses can thrive, supporting the Government’s number one mission to deliver economic growth.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of foreign investment on the UK defence industrial base.

The UK’s defence industry plays a vital role not only in our national security but also to the economic prosperity and growth of the UK. We want to boost investment in our defence industry, including from overseas, and the Defence Industrial Strategy will align our security and economic priorities to boost the prosperity of our people across the country, provide resilience for the UK, and ensure the credibility of our deterrence. The investment in defence announced by the Prime Minister on 25 February 2025 will protect UK citizens from threats and create a secure and stable environment in which businesses of all sizes can thrive. Alongside this, the Defence Industrial Strategy will consider how best to create the conditions needed for the private sector to invest more. We will maximise opportunities of dual-use technology and sectors to bring in investment that supports the broader industrial strategy as well as benefiting Defence. Equally this Government recognises that foreign investment can bring threats and risks as well as opportunity. The National Security and Investment Act is part of a robust system for scrutinising and where necessary intervening to protect national security, while providing businesses and investors with the certainty and transparency they need to do business in the UK.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of domestic industrial capacity to support defence supply chains.

This Government is bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy that will ensure a strong Defence sector and resilient supply chains across the whole of the UK. The Statement of Intent for the Defence Industrial Strategy, published in December 2024, set out a commitment to prioritising UK businesses for investment and boosting sovereign capacity. Through the Defence Industrial Strategy and the Strategic Defence Review, the Ministry of Defence is currently undertaking a review and reconfirmation of sovereign capabilities required onshore. The Department is also actively improving the capabilities of the UK’s Defence sector through initiatives such as the Defence Supplier Capability Development Programme and the new support hub for small and medium enterprises that the Prime Minister announced on 3 March 2025.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding UK-based (a) maintenance and (b) upgrading facilities for defence assets.

No recent assessments have been conducted on expanding UK based maintenance for Ministry of Defence (MOD) built assets. The MOD is investing in upgraded facilities to improve living, working and training environments in UK sites.