Defence: Wales
(asked on 9th October 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Welsh Government's Written Statement entitled An Ethical Framework for Welsh Government Engagement with the Defence Sector, of 3 September 2026, what discussions his Department has had with the Welsh Government on the new policy; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the policy of deferring investment in the defence sector on the level of UK manufacturing.
Answered by
Blair McDougall
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Advanced Manufacturing sector is at the forefront of tackling the challenges of our era, from decarbonisation to harnessing AI, which is why we want to ensure the sector is primed to seize new commercial opportunities, including in dual civil/military application technologies.
The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry recently met with the Welsh Government Ministers to discuss the ethical framework and to underline the important role that the Welsh defence industry plays in the defence of the UK.
The Government is keen to ensure that Wales remains competitive and attractive to inward investment, and Government officials are working closely with Welsh Government to understand how the ethical framework will be implemented.