Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department plans to take to increase defence procurement from UK startups in the the (a) cybersecurity, (b) AI, (c) quantum computing and (d) other emerging technology sectors.

The Ministry of Defence is bringing forward a new Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) that will ensure that the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned.

Through the DIS we are considering how to better support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), reduce barriers and set the conditions that unlock the full potential of SMEs to innovate at pace and seize future opportunities. The Government recently announced plans to launch a new hub to provide SMEs better access to the defence supply chain, and committed to set direct SME spending targets for the Ministry of Defence by June this year.

Technology will be at the heart of the new DIS. As part of a defence innovation drive, the Government will promote investment in defence start-ups and scale-up technology and capability, including through the National Security Strategic Investment Fund.