Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence
Monday 8th September 2025

(2 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alex Baker Portrait Alex Baker (Aldershot) (Lab)
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I welcome the five new defence technical excellence colleges just announced, but we need a skills pathway right across the country. I have been working with ADS on a defence curriculum that could be delivered across colleges and universities nationwide. What plans does the Minister have to support defence learning right across the country, and will he meet me and ADS to see if we can roll out a trial?

Luke Pollard Portrait Luke Pollard
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My hon. Friend is simply prolific in the areas in which she is seeking to improve defence, and I would be very happy to meet her to discuss this further. There will be an announcement on skills in the defence industrial strategy that is coming out this afternoon. There is a real opportunity to expand this work, not just in defence technical education colleges, but in institutions nationwide.