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Defence: Expenditure

Asked by Sir Andrew MitchellConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 3 June 2025UIN 53817

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of expenditure by his Department on businesses in the West Midlands.

Answered by Maria Eagle

The Ministry of Defence spent £1.6 billion in the West Midlands in 2023-24, which equates to £260 per person in the region and directly supported 7,100 jobs. This includes £137 million spent directly with SMEs in the same period.

Through the Defence Industrial Strategy, we will continue to engage with industry, devolved governments and local authorities to better understand the regional opportunities and barriers for growth in the defence sector.

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