Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent high-skilled jobs from moving to Europe in the context of the potential closure of the Airbus Portsmouth site.

His Majesty’s Government (HMG) is working to ensure that the UK remains a leading hub for the global space sector and as a destination for the talent which is required to continue to develop the industry. HMG is engaging with Airbus to understand its consolidation plans, and any decisions relating to the size and structure of Airbus' workforce are a matter for the company.