Responding to a parliamentary question from Neil Shastri-Hurst, MP for Solihull West and Shirley, the Ministry of Defence reiterated the significance of the UK’s defence industry, both in safeguarding national security and contributing to economic growth.

Luke Pollard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, highlighted that defence spending helps sustain around 434,000 jobs across the UK, with about 239,000 of these being supported by the industry itself.

Pollard noted the government’s commitment to prioritising personnel in the upcoming Strategic Defence Review, stating that the review will ensure that the workforce remains central to future defence operations. The government also announced plans to launch a Defence Industrial Strategy that will align national security with economic priorities, bolstering job growth and resilience throughout the country.

Pollard further outlined the role of industry partners in this broader vision, saying, “Our industry partners, of all sizes, are very much at the heart of our One Defence approach.” This initiative aims to strengthen the defence sector while ensuring that it contributes to the prosperity and resilience of the UK economy, reflecting the government’s integrated approach to security and economic development.