Brexit: Aerospace Industry

Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon Excerpts

Monday 6th February 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

I wonder what leadership my noble friend is referring to. I am sure that the party opposite is wholly united behind its leader.

[Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon (LD)]

My Lords, as the Minister well knows, a defence strategy refresher paper is to be published in the middle of the year. Never mind Brexit; is he aware that if that paper fails, as did the national strategy, to make a clear commitment on behalf of the Government in favour of retaining and preserving Britain’s capacity to design and manufacture its own helicopters, as we have done for 70 years for the benefit of our Armed Forces and our export markets, there is a real danger that that capacity will be lost, together with hundreds of jobs in Yeovil and elsewhere and a crucial part of the national aerospace asset? Why can everybody else see that danger but the Government seem blind to it?

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

My Lords, I do not agree with the last part of the noble Lord’s question. The capacity to manufacture helicopters in the UK is extremely important and the MoD is very much committed to doing that. As the noble Lord says, we will publish a refresh strategy later in the year, which I am sure will make that clear.