Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of (a) knowledge and technology transfer, (b) infrastructure investment, (c) skills initiatives and (d) other aspects of the F-35 Programme of Record on the viability of the UK’s combat air sector.

Participation in the F-35 Programme has brought significant revenue to the UK, creating and sustaining high-skilled jobs in the combat air sector which will benefit the sector in the long-term. Whilst knowledge and technology transfer is bounded by US International Traffic in Arms Regulations, significant investment has been made in the infrastructure to support the RAF F-35 Lightning fleet at RAF Marham and will continue to benefit the wider Combat Air sector through the retention of skills and facilities.