Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the sale of assets previously held by Cobham to US businesses on employment in the UK defence sector.

The acquisition of Cobham, a UK Aerospace and Defence company, by Advent International, in late 2019 was subject to a formal HMG review of the national security issues using powers under the Enterprise Act 2002. In line with the undertakings, Advent engaged with MOD officials on its plans to sell on various UK-based business units.

In addition, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has engaged with the buyers of UK parts of the former Cobham Group to ensure that the safety of jobs and investment in the UK remain a priority. We are content that under their new owners they will continue to provide the goods and services that our Armed Forces require and that UK jobs and investment will be safeguarded.