Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help small and medium-sized manufacturers in South Lanarkshire secure contracts in UK defence supply chains.

We are delivering on the Defence Industrial Strategy by increasing Ministry of Defence spend with SMEs by £2.5 billion by Summer 2028—taking total spend to £7.5 billion, a 50% uplift. This marks a step change in ensuring smaller businesses benefit from defence procurement.

The Defence Office for Small Business Growth is central to this effort and provides small and medium-sized enterprises across the United Kingdom with a single point of access to advice, support and defence opportunities. Through its website and contact centre, the Office helps businesses navigate procurement and security requirements, access guidance and financial support, and connect with buyers, investors, trade associations and regional defence and security clusters. It also supports trade shows and “meet the buyer” events, while working across Defence to remove unnecessary barriers and increase opportunities for SMEs throughout the defence supply chain.