Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of his Department's funding for research and development he allocated to firms in Wales in 2018.

Research and Development (R&D) is critical to the delivery of battle-winning capability for our Armed Forces.

In 2017-18, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) net expenditure on R&D activity (identified as meeting the Frascati international definition for new, novel and innovative R&D) totalled £1.6 billion, much of it with UK industry and supply chain SMEs, sustaining many UK jobs.

In 2017-18 the MOD's expenditure with UK Industry in Wales was £960 million. Defence expenditure with UK industry supported approximately 6,300 Welsh jobs in 2017-18.[1]

Actual figures relating to R&D spend in the regions are not held by the Department and as such could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Further related information is available online at the following locations.

MOD regional expenditure with UK industry and supported employment: 2017-18

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-regional-expenditure-with-uk-industry-and-supported-employment-201718UK gross domestic expenditure on research and development Statistical bulletins:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/researchanddevelopmentexpenditure/bulletins/ukgrossdomesticexpenditureonresearchanddevelopment/previousReleasesUK government expenditure on science, engineering and technology Statistical bulletins:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/researchanddevelopmentexpenditure/bulletins/ukgovernmentexpenditureonscienceengineeringandtechnology/previousReleases

[1] Source: MOD regional expenditure with UK industry and supported employment: 2017/18