Oral Question·Scotland Office
“What assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s work on strengthening the Union of allegations of impropriety in public life.”
Tabled: 9 February 2023Answered: 22 February 2023
Asked by
Cat Smith
Labour — Lancaster and Wyre
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Scotland
Answer from Hansard
The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rachel Reeves)
The first duty of any Government is to keep the nation safe. That is why we are increasing defence spending as a share of GDP to 2.5%—the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the cold war. Derby has a vital role to play within the UK’s defence sector, particularly in nuclear engineering and aerospace, as demonstrated by the landmark £9 billion deal with Rolls-Royce, which will create up to 1,000 jobs in the city and protect thousands more.