Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Cooper and Luke Pollard

Monday 3rd November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Luke Pollard]

I agree with the hon. Gentleman’s critique of the system that we inherited from the previous Government, which frankly was not good enough. We do need to see procurement contracting times reduced, which is why in the defence industrial strategy we set out our ambition to reduce six-year procurements to two years, two-year procurements to one year, and one-year procurements to six months. We are using innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to help speed up that transition, and we are opening our office of small business growth at the start of next year, which will enable more SMEs to access defence contracts directly.

[Andrew Cooper (Mid Cheshire) (Lab)]

5. What recent discussions he has had with allies on military support for Ukraine.