Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the proposal submitted by ADS to the Government to establish a supply chain fund to support businesses in the aerospace and defence sectors; and if he will take steps to provide Government support for that initiative.

We are in regular discussions with aerospace companies and ADS Group, through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, to consider what additional support the sector might need.

We are supporting investment in innovation and competitiveness by small and medium-sized businesses in the supply chain through our National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme, Sharing in Growth, and SC21 Competitiveness and Growth productivity programmes, which will receive over £135 million of public funding.