Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Lloyd Hatton Excerpts
Monday 19th October 2026

(2 days ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Wes Streeting Portrait Wes Streeting
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

This is what happens when the shadow Secretary of State writes his question before listening to the answer to his first question. The Chancellor has been very clear. I do not think repetition is a crime in the Commons, so I will repeat what I said just a moment ago: at next year’s spending review, the Chancellor will set out the path to 3% and 3.5%.

Lloyd Hatton Portrait  Lloyd  Hatton  (South Dorset) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

T3. Dorset Innovation Park has rapidly become a hub for defence companies, but we now need a college on site to ensure that more young people can gain the qualifications they need to stay and work locally. Will the Minister work with Yeovil college, the innovation park, the Department for Education and me to establish a satellite college on site, which will give more young people a direct pathway into high-skilled, well-paid defence jobs?

Luke Pollard Portrait The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I was hugely impressed by what I saw when I visited Dorset Innovation Park. Awarding Yeovil college status as one of the five defence technical excellence colleges was good news not only for Yeovil and Leonardo and its helicopter business, but for the wider region. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss how we can operate more of the hub-and-spoke models that the DTECs deliver up and down the country.