Ruth Jones, MP for Newport West and Islwyn, has highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong defence industry in Wales while meeting with military personnel at the Royal Welsh Show to discuss the Welsh Affairs Committee’s forthcoming Defence Strategy investigation.
The committee has initiated an examination of Wales’s contribution to UK security, reviewing defence production capabilities, economic contributions, and supply chain connections in response to the UK Government’s Defence Investment Plan.
The investigation seeks to explore how Welsh expertise in aerospace, land-based systems, munitions, and unmanned aerial vehicle technology contributes to national defence capabilities, evaluating the sector’s workforce of 16,000 employees, £3.7 billion in revenue, and roughly £1.5 billion in gross value added to Wales’s economy.
It will also examine skills gaps within the workforce, investment challenges, and procurement opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises based in Wales.
During the launch of the inquiry at Westminster in July, Mrs Jones stated that amid current global instability, supporting Wales’s defence industry has become increasingly vital. The performance of major defence firms operating in Wales is essential not only for national security but also for the broader economic wellbeing of the region.
She noted that the UK Government has committed over £5 billion to the UK’s drone development programme for military forces. With Wales identified as the UK’s centre for next-generation autonomous technology, the nation should be well positioned to gain from this funding. However, translating ambition in this field into actual contracts, highly skilled positions, and long-term employment prospects for Welsh workers remains essential.
She further explained that the investigation aims to comprehend the difficulties and potential facing the industry, determine the most effective ways the UK and Welsh Governments can provide assistance, and establish how Welsh regional economies can gain from public expenditure on defence.