Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Peter Luff and Paul Maynard

Monday 14th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Paul Maynard (Blackpool North and Cleveleys) (Con)]

3. What recent progress his Department has made on its consultation on the defence industrial, security and technology policy Green Paper.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Peter Luff)]

Our Green Paper, “Equipment, Support, and Technology for UK Defence and Security: A Consultation Paper”, was published on 20 December 2010, and progress on the consultation is encouraging. Ministers have engaged extensively with a wide range of interested parties, including right hon. and hon. Members of this House and of the House of Lords. Last week, a consultation conference took place at which over 200 people from industry, academia, service providers, trade bodies and the public discussed the Green Paper issues with Ministers and senior officials. I encourage anyone interested to send in their views on the issues outlined in the Green Paper before the consultation period ends on 31 March 2011.

[Paul Maynard]

Can the Minister give me an assurance that he will give due weight to the need to have a steady and constant stream of graduates in the complex scientific disciplines that underpin the research and development work on which the future of our defence industry rests?

[Peter Luff]

I am delighted to give my hon. Friend precisely that assurance. I am constantly amazed and delighted by the excellent work done by our scientists. I am in regular discussions with my colleagues in other Departments to ensure precisely that outcome, and he is right to highlight its importance.