Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many jobs will be created in Scotland as a result of the Defence Industrial Strategy in each of the next five years.

It is not possible to estimate the number of jobs being created in Scotland as a result of the Defence Industrial Strategy, as decisions on future investments in Scotland or assessments of its impact have not yet been made.

However, the defence sector is a significant employer in Scotland – MOD spending with industry supported 11,800 jobs in Scotland in 2023-24 – and we expect the Defence Industrial Strategy to contribute significantly to this over the next five years through initiatives such as the Scotland Defence Growth Deal.