Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of defence equipment collaboration between the UK and Germany on levels of investment in (a) infrastructure and (b) innovation in the North West.

Collaboration with Germany on defence equipment will have a positive impact on infrastructure and innovation in the North West. Specifically, recently announced programmes with KNDS UK in Stockport, which build on the existing investment for Bridging, as well as investment in a new manufacturing facility for BOXER, will lead to more than £400 million in total economic benefit. Furthermore, the programmes will support investment in local supply chains and sustain highly skilled jobs. More widely, we are deepening equipment collaboration with Germany through the Trinity House Defence Agreement; this collaboration will lead to further economic benefit across the UK in the longer term.