Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Official Statistics MOD regional expenditure with industry 2024/25, what the basis was for his Department finding a 6% reduction in defence spending on industry in Scotland.

The Ministry of Defence’s overall expenditure in Scotland during 2024-25 was £2.2 billion. The largest contracts in Scotland represent long-term, enduring investments, with payment values varying over time as different phases of programmes are delivered and contractual milestones are achieved.

As set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy and the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), this Government is committed to making defence an engine for economic growth across the UK, including in Scotland. The DIP is investing £298 billion over the next four years and is assessed to support an additional 60,000 direct and indirect jobs across the United Kingdom.

All nations and regions of the UK stand to benefit from this investment, the extent of future benefits in Scotland depending on the outcome of future competitions and procurement decisions. Initiatives such as the Scotland Defence Growth Deal are also driving innovation across key sectors, and new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges that will help develop the skilled workforce needed for Scotland’s future defence and maritime industries.