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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 21 September 2021 to Question 48387 on Aerospace Industry and Defence: Manufacturing Industries, if he will extend the SC21 Competitiveness and Growth programme beyond the expiry date of March 2022 to enable the aerospace and automative sectors to take into account the delays in access as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

A decision on continued funding for the Supply Chain 21 Competitiveness & Growth programme will be made as part of the Department’s business planning, which will determine future spending priorities following the conclusion of the Spending Review.