Oral QuestionDepartment for Business and Trade

“If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.”

Tabled: 27 August 2024Answered: 5 September 2024

Asked by

Paul Waugh

Labour (Co-op) — Rochdale

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Business and Trade

Answer from Hansard

John Healey

First, we are directing defence investment first to British firms that increase British jobs and increase apprenticeships, skills and opportunities for young people. Secondly, we are opening up direct entry recruitment to the armed forces for those with cyber-skills, and the first cohort has already been recruited. They are deployed much more quickly than via the normal route, and the early reports from every one of their units is overwhelmingly positive, so we are now moving to recruit the second tranche.