Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to provide infrastructure to help ensure that businesses can participate in (a) investment, (b) joint ventures and (c) projects under the AUKUS framework.

AUKUS provides a generational opportunity to enhance our collaborative relationship and collective national security, as well as better supporting how our industrial bases work together for the future. Progress continues to be made to ensure that businesses can participate in investment opportunities attached to AUKUS. To truly realise the benefits of the AUKUS partnership and the generational opportunity it presents, it is critical we break down existing and future barriers to collaboration. Modernising export controls will empower our government and industries to work together at the pace of relevance, accessing the best technologies and enhancing our mutual capabilities; ultimately to ensure our long-term collective security.