Question
The Welsh defence industry supports 20,000 jobs and is absolutely vital to the national security of the United Kingdom, yet defence firms face growing uncertainty over the UK Government’s failure to set out a detailed plan to meet the 3% of GDP target on defence spending and Plaid Cymru’s proposed defence ethical investment framework in Wales, which are both creating serious concern for businesses looking to invest, expand and protect jobs. Therefore, what discussions has the Minister had with defence companies about these concerns, and what is she doing to give the industry the certainty it desperately needs?
Answer
I thank the hon. Member for his question, but I think he may have a short memory. It was his Government who cut the Army to its smallest size since Napoleonic times and short-changed the equipment plan by £17 billion. In stark contrast, this Chancellor announced a £298 billion investment in defence over the next four years. We are working at pace to deliver the development growth deal across the country, with high-quality jobs and investment across Wales. I am urging the Plaid Cymru Government to stop at nothing, to work with us and to ensure that we deliver security for the people of Wales and those high-quality jobs.38% point-scoring 23% vibes
Verdict: RED (18/100)
The reply does not address the first part of the question, which asked about the Minister's engagement with defence companies and industry on the 3% target and Plaid's ethical investment framework. It instead criticises the previous government and points to overall defence investment. On the second part, about giving industry planning certainty, the reply only partly responds by citing the £298 billion four-year defence investment figure, without explaining how it provides that certainty. The person who asked would most likely need to submit a follow-up question.
Verdict: AMBER (42/100)
The reply gives one concrete answer: it cites a £298 billion four-year defence investment, which directly speaks to how industry can be given certainty. It does not address the Minister's engagement with defence companies or Plaid Cymru's proposed ethical investment framework, and the rest of the reply is largely political comparison and general appeals to work together. Because the answer to the first part of the question is missing and the second part is only partly addressed, the person who asked would likely need to follow up on the engagement and investment-framework points.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the nature of the Minister's engagement with defence companies on concerns about the Government's plan to meet the 3% of GDP defence spending target and Plaid Cymru's proposed defence ethical investment framework in Wales. | Not Addressed | Generic | The reply never describes the Minister's engagement with defence companies or with industry on the 3% target or Plaid's ethical investment framework; it instead attacks the previous government's defence record, cites overall investment, and urges the Welsh Government to cooperate. |
| What is the nature of the Minister's engagement with defence companies on the uncertainty over the Government's plan to meet the 3% of GDP defence spending target and Plaid Cymru's proposed defence ethical investment framework in Wales? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply cites the £298 billion four-year defence investment (statement 4), which bears on the 3% spending plan, but says nothing about the Minister's engagement with defence companies and does not address Plaid Cymru's proposed ethical investment framework. Statement 6 only urges the Plaid Government to work together on security and jobs, and statement 3 is a point-scoring comparison with the previous government. |
| What is the department doing to give the defence industry certainty in response to these concerns. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The £298 billion four-year defence investment figure is a concrete funding commitment relevant to industry confidence, but the reply never frames it as a step to give industry certainty, and the Welsh growth deal reference concerns jobs rather than the defence industry's planning certainty. |
| What is the Minister doing to give the defence industry the certainty it needs? | Addressed | Direct | The reply names a concrete funding commitment, a £298 billion defence investment over four years (statement 4), which is a specific, direct answer to what is being done to give industry certainty. Statement 5's reference to the development growth deal and jobs in Wales is a looser supporting point rather than a defence-specific measure. |