Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will give consideration to retaining UK aerospace design and manufacturing capability by taking into account supply chains when purchasing new aircraft.

We recognise the important contribution the UK's Defence Aerospace Industry makes to the UK's national security and prosperity.

Through the Future Combat Air Strategy Technology Initiative (FCAS TI), announced as part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review settlement, we are pursuing a national programme to ensure the UK retains the skills and capabilities necessary to maintain our place as a global leader in this area including in the wider supply chain.

We continue to review the defence industrial landscape, including in the UK aerospace sector to better understand our longer-term requirements and delivery options including the potential for international partnering, industry's appetite to invest, adjacent civil investment and overall affordability. Our review process considers the broader supply chain and will be taken into consideration in future procurement decisions. In addition, the refreshed Defence Industrial Policy will further explain how our investment choices take account of factors contributing to a more dynamic and productive UK economy, in which the UK defence supply chain plays a crucial part.