Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that UK-Australia defence technology co-operation creates opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in relevant supply chains.

UK-Australia cooperation on advanced radar technology is being considered as part of wider work to understand future radar options and their implications for UK sovereign defence industrial capability. No final procurement decision has been taken. Any future approach would be subject to normal approvals and would need to meet the UK’s requirements for operational independence, security and industrial resilience. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are central to this delivery, particularly in innovation, digital, and supply chains. We want to make the UK the best place to start and grow a defence business, and we are boosting spend with SMEs by £2.5 billion by 2028.