Oral Answers to Questions

Lauren Edwards Excerpts

Monday 19th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Jessica Toale (Bournemouth West) (Lab)]

2. What steps he is taking to help improve skills in the defence workforce.

[Lauren Edwards (Rochester and Strood) (Lab)]

16. What steps he is taking to improve skills in the defence workforce.

[Chris Kane (Stirling and Strathallan) (Lab)]

19. What steps he is taking to improve skills in the defence workforce.

--- Later in debate ---

[Wes Streeting]

I thank my hon. Friend for championing Bournemouth University and the work that has been undertaken to develop the cyber competence centre that she opened last month. As part of our defence strategic priorities grant competition, we are investing over £2.8 million to boost the work at Bournemouth University, including establishing new undergraduate courses in cyber-defence and autonomous systems, increasing skills development for students and collaborating with employers. We would like to see that approach—of Government, industry and our innovation and science base working together—power the future of defence.

[Lauren Edwards]

Last week, BAE Systems in Rochester launched its Movement to Work initiative, a three-week programme that will develop practical skills, provide real work experience and build the confidence that Medway needs. Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating the company on that fantastic initiative, and outline how he is working more broadly with the defence sector to help tackle the crisis of people not in education, employment or training across the UK?

[Wes Streeting]

Recently, I chaired an industry roundtable with Alan Milburn, who is leading work for the Government in that area. I strongly believe that with the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the cold war, we can not only strengthen our national defence but ensure that we have a country that is worth fighting for by investing here in Britain: backing Britain, buying British, investing in the next generation and tackling the scourge of the 1 million or so young people who are not in education, employment or training. I am delighted that the defence industry has responded to calls to help us.