Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to increase defence manufacturing capabilities.

The UK has a world class production and manufacturing eco-system, providing high-quality, cutting-edge armaments, components, and technologies for our Armed Forces and our allies. The Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) 2025 sets out how we will deliver a defence sector that is more competitive, integrated, innovative and resilient, including by boosting UK manufacturing. Our new alliance with the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, launched in the DIS, will lever world-leading research and development capabilities, and further accelerate industrial transformation. This builds on the strategic use of Advance Manufacturing in the development, delivery and sustainment of Defence capabilities.

We are committed to ensuring the Defence industry is a engine for economic growth through strengthened industrial relationships and domestic investment. We have committed £6 billion this Parliament towards munitions, as outlined in the Strategic Defence Review 2025, which supports defence capacity whilst generating local jobs and economic prosperity. This investment includes £1.5 billion for building six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK to deliver an ‘always on’ pipeline, locations and arrangements of which are being assessed through ongoing work.