Question follow-through · 39951

Defence: Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking tackle skills gaps within the defence industry.

answeredMinistry of Defence

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body: Ministry of Defence
Tabled: 20 Mar 2025
Target answer date: 24 Mar 2025
Answer: 27 Mar 2025 · 7 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

More questions by this MP on Defence and foreign affairs

Bomb Disposal · 21 Mar 2025
Veterans: Bomb Disposal · 21 Mar 2025
Defence: Welding · 21 Mar 2025
Ukraine: Military Aid · 21 Mar 2025
Ministry of Defence: Computers · 24 Mar 2025

Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.

Votes on this topic

Opposition Day Motion: Defence spending and readiness - Prime Minister's Amendment · 23 Jun 2026
Opposition day: Defence spending and readiness · 23 Jun 2026
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: Amendment 11 · 22 Jun 2026

These Commons divisions share a topic label. The question did not necessarily lead to a vote.

Recorded timeline

20 Mar 2025
Question tabled
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking tackle skills gaps within the defence industry.
24 Mar 2025
Target answer date
Date supplied by the official written-questions record.
27 Mar 2025
Answer published
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises that attracting and retaining the right mix of skills is critical to sustaining a vibrant, innovative and competitive UK defence sector. This is an important area of focus in the development of the Defence Industri...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

Possible follow-up questions

Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Bomb Disposal

21 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK's explosive ordnance removal capabilities in (a) the UK and (b) internationally.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Veterans: Bomb Disposal

21 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with charities that provide assistance to veterans who have (a) conducted and (b) assisted with Explosive Ordnance Disposal duties.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Defence: Welding

21 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking with Cabinet colleagues to expand (a) apprenticeship schemes and (b) skills training to meet demand for welders within the defence industry.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Ukraine: Military Aid

21 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his (a) French, (b) Italian and (c) other EU nations' counterparts on accelerating the transfer of (i) ammunition and (ii) other armaments to Ukraine.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Ministry of Defence: Computers

24 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the median age is of computers issued to officials in their Department.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Ministry of Defence: Artificial Intelligence

3 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the use of AI in their Department on security.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Ministry of Defence: Artificial Intelligence

3 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the use of AI in his Department on security.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Veterans: Government Assistance

15 May 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with local councils on the implementation of VALOUR support centres.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Veterans: Identity Cards

19 May 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timeline is for the introduction of the Digital Veteran Card.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Ministry of Defence: Weapons

19 May 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department segregates armaments into (a) defensive and (b) offensive categories.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Animal Experiments

21 May 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of animals used for Defence Science and Technology Laboratory research in 2024.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Apprentices: Defence

21 May 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is taking steps to increase the number of apprenticeships within the defence sector.