Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November to Question 85232 on Defence: Contracts, whether he held discussions with representatives from British SMEs regarding the location of the Defence Office for Small Business Growth.

Planning for the new Defence Office for Small Business Growth continues at pace. The Office will reflect modern ways of working and will not be restricted by a physical location. By using a networked approach that utilizes services provided by existing organisations including the Trade Bodies and Regional Defence and Security Clusters, the Office will address one of the significant barriers to entry for SME support. The offering will be across the country and utilising effective digital tools, enabling small businesses to connect with the Office regardless of location.