Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the Defence Growth Deal on Scotland.

The UK Government’s £50 million Scottish Defence Growth Deal is a step-change for Scotland’s industrial base. It will support skills, high-skilled jobs, innovation and regional growth.

It will include £10 million for innovation facilities both on the Clyde and in Rosyth, and £10 million for two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges. Located to support Scotland’s defence clusters in the East and West, these will strengthen talent pipelines and support long-term sector growth. I urge the Scottish Government to match our investment in Scotland’s defence skills sector.