Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of whether there is capacity for UK drone production to increase in the near term.

Defence has conducted an in depth industry survey following the Ministry of Defence Drone industry day earlier this year. We have generated a considerable range of data on Defence and Supplier coherence, and the UK Supply Chain and Commercial Market which we are analysing alongside a range of inputs to understand where the UK should prioritise production capacity. Defence will continue to prioritise the development of onshore UK drone production to enhance strategic resilience by ensuring onshore production is a key metric when selecting Defence Industry partners for uncrewed system design, development and acquisition. This will be cohered through the newly established Defence Uncrewed Design Authority.