UK-Norway Defence Agreement: Impact in Scotland

Lord Inglewood Excerpts

Wednesday 5th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend. He draws our attention to a very important development in the defence world of drones and their procurement. I am sure that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State will be happy to meet Sir John Parker, as he suggests. As was in that review, though, the key to this is not just investment. It is about skills, as we have already highlighted, but also innovation, research and development, supply chain innovation, and the speed to market. All those points would come out in the meeting that my noble friend suggests.

[Lord Inglewood (CB)]

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the example of Barrow-in-Furness, where central government, local authorities and their agencies and BAE Systems are combining and taking forward the shipyards, provides a very good template for what might happen in Scotland?

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I absolutely agree with that point. The story of Barrow-in-Furness is quite inspiring. Since 1901, Barrow-in-Furness has built 312 submarines, and its current renaissance reflects the importance of skills, innovation, R&D and the supply chain. But I would emphasise that things had got to a very low ebb in Barrow-in-Furness before the turnaround we are now discussing.