Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that will be supported at BAE Systems in Samlesbury by the F-35 programme; and for how long those jobs will be supported.

UK industry, as a whole, will build around 15 per cent by value of each of the more than 3,000 planned F-35s.

We expect the F-35B Lightning II Programme to sustain thousands of jobs in the UK into the 2040s, with many companies involved in design, manufacture and support of the aircraft, including at BAE Systems in Samlesbury. These jobs will enable the UK to retain and continue to develop its leading edge technologies and manufacturing capabilities, making a significant contribution to the UK economy.