Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Jones Excerpts
Monday 10th January 2022

(2 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Wallace
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Periodically we come to this House—either myself or the Foreign Secretary—to update the House overall on Op Shader, and we periodically inform the House of all strikes we make. If it has not happened yet, it will happen very soon through the Cabinet Office.

Andrew Jones Portrait Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con)
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The Department is investing in emerging technologies around the country as part of the defence supply chain. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that the next generation of armed forces personnel, including those at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, are trained to take advantage of them?

Jeremy Quin Portrait Jeremy Quin
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I thank my hon. Friend for the question. We have more than 1,000 science, technology, engineering and mathematics—or STEM—representatives. We ensure that about 90% of all non-commissioned roles have the opportunity to take apprenticeships, which go right the way across new areas of skills, including STEM skills. That includes the outstanding Harrogate College. From memory, part of the syllabus includes space, autonomy and cyber. We are ensuring that we are absolutely at the cutting edge.