The Senedd has tonight backed a Welsh Conservative motion calling for the creation of a dedicated Welsh defence industrial strategy.
The motion calls on the Welsh Government to set out how Wales can maximise the jobs, investment and skills opportunities arising from increased UK defence spending, expand defence-related apprenticeships and technical education, and work with the UK Government to strengthen investment in the sector.
The vote follows the Welsh Government’s announcement that it is developing a separate ‘ethical defence investment framework’, with new defence investment decisions to be deferred where legally and practically possible while that work is completed.
Wales’s combined aerospace and defence sector directly employs around 16,000 people, has a turnover of £3.7 billion and contributes approximately £1.5 billion to the Welsh economy.
Darren Millar MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said:
“Wales has a proud history of playing its part in the defence of the United Kingdom and has enormous potential to secure more defence investment, skilled jobs and apprenticeships.
“Tonight, the Senedd has backed our call for a Welsh defence industrial strategy focused on those opportunities.
“The Welsh Government should now act on that decision and work with the UK Government, industry, universities and colleges to ensure that Wales gets its fair share of increased defence investment.
“As I said before today’s debate, instead of talking down the defence sector, the Welsh Government should be working with the UK Government to maximise the economic benefits for Wales.”
