Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Nicola Richards Excerpts
Monday 18th July 2022

(2 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
David Duguid Portrait David Duguid (Banff and Buchan) (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

17. What steps his Department is taking to support defence jobs.

Nicola Richards Portrait Nicola Richards (West Bromwich East) (Con)
- Hansard - -

20. What steps his Department is taking to support defence jobs.

Ben Wallace Portrait The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ben Wallace)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I am sorry that I did not get the memo on dress and attire earlier, Mr Speaker. What next? Flip-flops in the House?

--- Later in debate ---
Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Wallace
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

Our investment in Scotland was £1.99 billion last year, on projects such as the Type 26 in Govan, the Type 31 in Rosyth, airborne radars and advanced laser munitions in Edinburgh, which all help to sustain the skills base. It is incredibly important that the Scottish Government and the UK Government work with the further education colleges and the manufacturers to make sure that they invest in the skills that we so vitally need.

Nicola Richards Portrait Nicola Richards
- View Speech - Hansard - -

The Boxer programme in Telford has a positive effect throughout the midlands, with over 60% of its value flowing into UK supply chains. Can my right hon. Friend confirm how certain we can be of future jobs and investment from defence land equipment?

Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Wallace
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

Yes, the fact that the Army will invest £41.3 billion in new capabilities over the next decade—including the likes of Boxer, Challenger 3 and two new major programmes that will develop in the near future, such as deep fires—will increase production and the employment base, which is also why it is so important that we invest in the skills at the same time. That will put UK land manufacturing back at the forefront of the international defence sector. It is a part of the sector that has lagged behind air and sea for too long.