Oral Answers to Questions

Maggie Throup Excerpts

Monday 9th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[John Howell (Henley) (Con)]

12. What steps he is taking to encourage defence exports by UK companies.

[Maggie Throup (Erewash) (Con)]

20. What steps he is taking to encourage defence exports by UK companies.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson)]

The Ministry of Defence continues to lead strategic exports campaigns, working across Government and with industry to win business abroad. I am sure that hon. Members will join me in welcoming BAE Systems’ success in being selected as the preferred bidder in Australia’s SEA 5000 future frigate programme.

[Gavin Williamson]

We have a world-leading product and want to sell it right across the world. The deal with Australia is a great success; it is the first major export of ships in more than 40 years. The next place that we will target is, of course, Canada. Working closely with our “Five Eyes” partners, it is important that we have capability so that we can work together, as well as build prosperity together.

[Maggie Throup]

While we hear much about the physical exports manufactured by Chemring Defence in my constituency, among other companies, what more is being done to export British military skills and training, which are the envy of the world, so that we ensure that operational equipment that is exported from the UK is used in accordance with our specific aims?

[Gavin Williamson]

My hon. Friend raises a very important point. Our skills are in not just the development of technology and equipment, but people, as was touched on earlier. We have a lot of world-leading companies, such as Babcock, that export their services right around the world, but we also have people’s experience of serving in the armed forces and the way in which they help and support other countries right around the world after they leave service.