Defence: Procurement
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to identify SMEs eligible for membership of the Authorised User Community.
Answered by Luke Pollard
All UK SMEs are eligible to apply for membership of the UK Authorised User Community. Since the AUKUS exemption was formalised, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has conducted significant outreach activities aimed at the whole of the UK defence industry, with the intention of promoting the AUKUS exemption and the benefits of joining the AUC.
The MOD has also identified and participated in a series of countrywide UK business and regional trade events, specifically with the purpose of engaging with the UK SME community to promote the benefits of joining the Authorised User Community. These events, organised by the likes of ADS and other regional trade bodies, take place throughout the year and the MOD will continue to support them on an enduring basis to ensure that the exemption and the AUC continues to be promoted with a view to expanding the membership.
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