Earl of Minto

Government, through its modern Industrial Strategy, is working with industry, including Rolls-Royce, to support its industrial ambitions to unlock growth and jobs in the UK.

Government is supporting the aerospace sector, including Rolls-Royce and its supply chain, through Aerospace Technology Institute research and development programme which has funding of up to £2.3 billion to 2035. The support awarded to Rolls-Royce is key to helping it develop its new UltraFan engine which, when realised, will secure jobs in the UK for decades to come.

I refer the noble Lord to the statement I made on 1 April 2025 (HLWS571) about Defence Reform.

Under the Secretary of State for Defence and Ministers, the structure of the Ministry of Defence has been simplified under four Areas: a Department of State, a Military Strategic Headquarters, a National Armaments Director Group, and the Defence Nuclear Enterprise. Departmental processes, and the organisation of public bodies and agencies, are now being updated to reflect the new structure, which will include simplification and reducing duplication.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review and in the ongoing work on Defence Reform, the Ministry of Defence through the National Armament’s Director will improve the effectiveness of our procurement processes by removing silos between services, by speeding up our decision-making, and by reducing bureaucracy.