Asked by: Lillian Jones (Labour - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to build energetics and munitions factories, particularly in Ayrshire.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We are committed to ensuring the Defence industry is a powerhouse for economic growth through strengthened industrial relationships and domestic investment. As published in the UK Defence Footprint Scotland has seen £2.1 billion of Defence spending in 2024-25. We have committed £6 billion this Parliament towards munitions, as outlined in the Strategic Defence Review 2025, which supports defence capacity whilst generating local jobs and economic prosperity. This investment includes £1.5 billion for building six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK to deliver an 'always on' pipeline, locations and arrangements of which are being assessed through ongoing work. Whilst the secretary of state announced a list of sites under consideration on 19 November, it is currently premature to finalise specific site proposals and their assessment, more detail will be available once the necessary preparatory work has been completed.
Asked by: Lillian Jones (Labour - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
If he will review his Department's policy on the rehabilitation of armed forces (a) personnel and (b) applicants graded as medically unfit.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The UK is a world leader in military rehabilitation and provides a comprehensive tiered rehabilitation service for Armed Forces personnel extending from the more minor to the most severe injuries.
The medical entry standards for Armed Forces applicants were updated in August 2024 following an intensive period of review of undertaken by clinical experts, Defence personnel and the recruiting agencies.