Oral Answers to Questions

Nia Griffith Excerpts

Monday 15th December 2025 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Dame Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab)]

1. What steps he is taking through defence spending to help increase economic growth.

[Andrew Ranger (Wrexham) (Lab)]

3. What steps he is taking through defence spending to help increase economic growth.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dame Nia Griffith]

When Jodrell Bank celebrated its 80th anniversary, we heard lots about its contribution to science and its 150,000 visitors per year, so does the Secretary of State share my excitement about the job opportunities that may result from repurposing Cawdor barracks in Pembrokeshire as a deep space advanced radar capability? Will he meet me to discuss job opportunities for manufacturers in my constituency resulting from that project, from the project for a new development site for the Windracers drone, and from other defence projects?

[John Healey]

I do indeed recognise my hon. Friend’s excitement, as she puts it, about the opportunities created by the deep space advanced radar capability, the new drone developments and projects that we will bring to Wales. As we make defence an engine for growth, we are also putting the UK at the leading edge of innovation in NATO. I can announce today that in its first year, UK Defence Innovation will invest over £140 million in new drone and counter-drone systems to protect the UK homeland and allies in the face of increasing Russian drone incursions. That is backing British small and medium-sized enterprises, British micro-SMEs and British universities.