Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of small and medium sized businesses in the Department's supply chain.

Defence is an engine for growth. The Department is taking significant steps to promote the use of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within its supply chain. The new Office for Small Business Growth is being established to provide a single access point for SMEs and improve navigation across the Defence landscape.

The existing Doing Business with Defence industry engagement team regularly attend events and shows across the country including working closely with our major suppliers and trade associations to engage smaller and non-traditional suppliers. Recent examples include DSEI in September and the DPRTE Defence Summit held in Manchester in October.

Additionally, to expand regional reach, Regional Defence and Security Clusters (RDSCs) are being established throughout the UK, and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK, is being developed to leverage cross-sector expertise and world-class research facilities.