Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled, Government launches Back British industry call to action to boost UK jobs, businesses and skills, published on 23 October 2025, when he expects to launch the new Defence Office for Small Business Growth.

Planning for the Office for Business Growth is well underway. The support that will be offered by the Office has been developed following wide ranging consultation with a variety of stakeholders, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), prime contractors, trade associations, mid-tier suppliers, Regional Defence and Security Clusters, and academia. The Office will provide services to both small businesses and Ministry of Defence teams, which will focus on growth and shaping the defence industry landscape to develop resilient supply chains.

The Office will be established by late January 2026.