Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last held discussions with the (a) Scottish Government and (b) (i) further and (ii) higher education sector in Scotland to encourage the effective supply of skills for the defence industrial sector from Scotland.

This Government recognises the critical importance of attracting new entrants into the defence sector in order to ensure we have the skilled workforce needed to sustain a vibrant, innovative and competitive defence industrial base. While discussions with the Scottish Government and education establishments in Scotland have not been held by the Secretary of State for Defence, the Ministry of Defence welcomes engagement and consultation with stakeholders across the United Kingdom to ensure our defence sector has the right people and skills to meet the challenges of the future.