Oral Question·Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
“If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.”
Tabled: 9 November 2023Answered: 15 November 2023
Asked by
Christine Jardine
Liberal Democrat — Edinburgh West
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Answer from Hansard
The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard)
SMEs are crucial to our success. Through the Defence Office for Small Business Growth, we are cutting red tape and proceeding towards our ambitious SME spend target of an additional £2.5 billon by summer 2028. Last week we announced, with Sweden, the Gripen contract for £500 million of benefits to be shared not just by large companies but by small businesses across the United Kingdom, reinforcing the fact that defence is an engine for growth.