Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential of the Autumn Budget 2024 on the defence supply chain.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Autumn Budget settlement means the defence budget will grow in line with the economy.
The Department is committed to bringing forward a new Defence Industrial Strategy which will ensure national security and a high-growth economy. The strategy will deliver a better, more innovative and more resilient defence sector to boost capabilities in critical defence technologies.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the role of Bedfordshire in the UK’s military supply chain.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The East of England plays an important role in defending the UK from growing threats and Defence's contribution to the economy, with approximately £1.4 billion of Ministry of Defence (MOD) spend in the region in 2022-23. Bedfordshire in particular is home to a number of our strategic suppliers and a variety of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises working in defence, underlining the importance of the county in the Defence supply chain.
Mid Bedfordshire also hosts the prestigious DVD (Defence Vehicle Demonstration) Event, providing opportunities for industry and key MOD stakeholders to develop next-generation capabilities to meet the requirements of a modern, lethal army.