Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to ensure sovereign capacity in the UK for the construction of future sixth-generation jet fighters.

The 2012 National Security through Technology White Paper (CM8278) explains the Government's approach to Defence procurement, including the circumstances in which we take action to protect our operational advantage and freedom of action. The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (CM9161) reiterated the Government's commitment to this approach and identified the need to adopt a more vigilant and systematic approach to managing critical supply chains.

The F35B Lightning II will deliver a potent fifth generation fighter capability for our Armed Forces. The UK has now been established as a maintenance and repair hub for all European F-35s. Together with UK industry's 15 per cent share by value of the manufacture of more than 3,000 planned aircraft, this will sustain thousands of high-quality UK jobs into the 2040s.

The UK has been chosen by the United States to become a global hub for maintenance and support services for the F35 programme. The initial contracts will generate hundreds of millions of pounds of revenue, supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs, including in Wales.

It is too early to take decisions on what might constitute any Future Combat Air System (FCAS), but through the FCAS Technology Initiative we are working in partnership with UK defence industry and our closest allies to develop key technologies while also sustaining the UK industrial base.

This technology initiative is built around a national programme of activities to maintain and enhance the UK's position as a global leader in combat air technologies. It also includes programmes to develop an advanced unmanned combat air system demonstrator in partnership with France and bilateral projects with the United States.