Former Defence Minister Philip Dunne has released a report highlighting the integral role of defence to British prosperity.
The review was commissioned by the Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson after he launched the Modernising Defence Programme (MDP) to strengthen the Armed Forces in the face of intensifying threats, alongside the Prime Minister and the Chancellor.
The independent review of defence’s contribution to national economic and social value by Philip Dunne looks right across the Armed Forces and industry to provide an in-depth picture to inform proposals for reform into the MDP.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
“Philip Dunne’s review shows how vital defence is, not only protecting us from global dangers and safeguarding our national prosperity, but also to our economy by creating thousands of specialist and highly-skilled jobs and creating billions in exports.
He paints a clear picture of how defence and defence industry reaches every corner of the UK and is central to employment in so many cities and towns.
He lays down some key challenges to consider as our Modernising Defence Programme continues to ensure defence is the best it can be in a post-Brexit Britain.”
The report also includes a number of recommendations for review, including: further research into the impact of significant procurements on national prosperity; building on the strong relationships with industry suppliers; and considering how the UK’s world-leading institutions could be given greater entrepreneurial freedoms.
Philip Dunne said:
“I am pleased to have been able to undertake this review and am grateful for the help of all those in and outside the Department who have contributed.
This is the first time for some years that an independent report has sought to look at the whole impact of Defence on the UK economy, its devolved nations and regions in England.
Defence has made a number of important steps in meeting its prosperity objective. It makes a major contribution to our economic well-being, with 500,000 people working directly and indirectly in Defence and over 25,500 apprentices developing skills. In several local communities Defence is one of the leading providers of high skilled jobs.
But there is more that can be done as Defence has to adapt to rapidly evolving technological threats, so too should it seize the opportunities to adapt and improve its own processes to help meet the challenges of the high-tech defence future.
I look forward to seeing how the MOD responds to this report and have confirmed to the Defence Secretary that I am willing to revisit in some months’ time how the Department has considered and where it has decided to implement these ideas.”
The industry makes a huge contribution across all regions of the UK whether as a major employer, a large investor or as a hub for local communities. Defence is the third largest landowner in the country with 220,000 hectares often benefiting remote and rural communities.
The report reveals that around 500,000 people support military activities across the UK. It outlines that the UK’s defence industry is one of the world’s strongest with an annual turnover of £22 billion supporting 260,000 jobs, many of which are highly skilled and well-paid. Most importantly, he acknowledges that defence is a major contributor to the nation’s skills and one of the largest employer of apprentices with over 25,500 currently enrolled.
Teresa and spreadsheet Phil won’t read it.
I believe they will read it. A global Britain needs a military component when negotiating trade deals with nations, especially in areas of tension. In the past, the British Empire baked in diehard military assurances as a way of cementing good and lasting relationships. Today, the UK has many overseas military agreements/commitments, and I feel sure they will increase exponentially as we leave the EU.
Maurice you’ve been saying this for a while on here, “global Britain” will need this and that for trade deals, it’s complete horse*** Singapore has 35 fta’s, more than China, have a look online at countries like New Zealand and Japan and have a look at the amount of trade deals they have, there is absolutely no evidence that having a large powerful navy will increase chances of a trade deal. Governments are only interested in a few things when discussing a trade deal, money, will it be good for the countries economy, will it create jobs and most importantly,… Read more »
Hello Sole, going to largely agree with you on this one as I don’t see a direct relationship between trade and military capability, unless the latter is used to coerce; perhaps Maurice’s fantasy fleet includes Monitors for gunboat diplomacy (just joking Maurice :-)) However, I could see a soft power influence from increasing deployments East of Suez. Stronger engagement with countries in SE Asia and Australasia doesn’t guarantee any military commitment e.g. the Five Power Defence Arrangements, but may help influence trading relationships. I suspect there are significant concerns regarding China’s claims and ambitions in the region and specifically wrt… Read more »
I’ll keep this short, Britain is already building new overseas bases to help defend UK interests and security, but also demonstrating a military commitment to the regions; by simply being there. Take Cyprus, it depends heavily in the Creek zone on Britain’s bases. The growing tensions in the Far East will be one area where the UK will want to trade, and some countries will encourage us to include a military component, as an incentive for doing business? This concept is not unique to the UK, it is widely adopted by many major powers. The UK still has dependant states,… Read more »
Haha Brazil still has one of those in service, oldest active warship in the world, amazing. I understand where you’re coming from there but remember increased military deployments would be an increase in/exercising hard power, there is no link between military and soft power as soft power is measured officially only on diplomacy, government, education, digital, enterprise, tech products, foreign policy and a few others. Hard power is military, population size and GDP. You’re right though we probably will see increased deployments east of suez but you’ve hit the nail on the head as to the reason why, China. I… Read more »
Hello both, Maurice do you have any examples of “those that do, will require tangible support” either with the UK or someone else? Doesn’t mean there aren’t any but I’m not familiar with any and on that basis it seems unlikely to me that trade would be so directly linked to defence? Happy to be proved wrong which segues nicely into … Sole, thanks for correcting/educating me on “power” definitions, I should have checked before use. My intent was to convey that UK presence would be a “soft” reassurance to a country and/or region rather than a “hard” commitment/treaty/agreement for… Read more »
I would just add that the deployment of HMS Sutherland “on tour” around Australia apparently (not sure how you’d quantify it) had a favourable effect on choosing Type 26 for SEA5000.
I think this kind of military showcase or “flag waving” tour is the new way to generate trade worldwide, albeit most likely military based. It’s something the Royal Navy happen to be very good at.
Sole, you stole my words. Well said
Thanks, Steve M, you at least see my point. British arms sales may also be part of any new trade deals. Many of these could include initial deployment of British service personnel, to help the customer introduce their forces to the new equipment? Such exercises would pull on resources.
With the big resignations today and Williamson sitting right next to the PM in the Commons. She might just cave into his funding demands to keep him on side.
She has way too many other problems and Williamson will not upset the apple cart further by resigning. He may not get another cabinet post if there is a new PM.
In fact I cannot see TM lasting much longer. I hope I am wrong as the alternatives seem far worse, Boris as PM for instance.
It doesn’t look as though TM will be around long enough to make that decision. Williamson may not last either.
Farcical scenes at Westminster.
May ain’t going anywhere but staying put in No10. I don’t think there has been a woman like her before. Thatcher was shakable, and that vulnerability showed, if only rarely. May is a survivor, she makes a complete Horlicks of the election, yet carries on with hardly a sidewards glance. During the Brexit debacle, she held her ground, even against hostile SNP sniper attacks. On Friday she held that Cabinet meeting knowing that is she was to resign then it would have been at the closure of the meeting. Now she has a mandate with the majority of the cabinet… Read more »
I posted that just at the point it was reported that the rebels had enough for the vote of no confidence, which seems to have fallen by the wayside. Indeed JRM even said last night that he would not vote against the PM if there was one. Interesting times!
Boris as Foreign Secretary was always ridiculous. If reports are to be believed he didn’t listen to or read his briefs so just winged every meeting. Can’t believe some still consider him PM material.
If May’s Brexit proposal fails and we leave with little in the way of trade agreements, Boris may stay silent. However, if her proposal remains virtually intact, and we leave on her terms, then we could well see the return of Boris in the capacity of a brand new leader of a right-wing party? Most of whom could be those Conservatives who showed their displeasure and walked, plus others that see Boris as the man to force another referendum within two or three years after leaving. It will most likely take that amount of time, in order to make a… Read more »
@Maurice,
Yes!
one could almost be forgiven for thinking the poor election result for the Conservatives was a very good election result for her and a Soft Brexit.
Had she gone in to Brexit with a real mandate and good numbers she would have become dispensable and given the UK government a much stronger hand in Brexit negotiations. As it is, she is now indispensable and the EU will not have to face any negotiations, Brexit is now spelled R-E-M-A-I-N. If this WAS the plan, May has my respect – it was a supreme act of politicking.
Gentlemen!
Please be patient. It would be prudent to see what happens.
I do hope that whoever is in power builds up our armed forces!
It should be a stable agreed situation between the different Parties as in other countries!
A strong Defence means respect! It’s about time our political parties realise that!
Nick (Hamburg Germany)
Ps as expat…… very sad with all that’s going on!
Hello David Cameron – are you pleased with yourself? Some of this is down to you. Plus where are the 13 type 26 warships and why should we also not have at least 8 t31 warships as well as a replacement HMS Ocean in order to take the pressure off properly supporting commonwealth countries, flat decks and the carriers, in order to balance the Russian defence spending growth (over the last 5 years) in submarines, warships, replacement tanks and new fighter jets, not leave out a mention of newer anti-ship missile development. Yes, the 35bn defence budget black hole was… Read more »
KeithSware, not sure that you are being fair here, The labour governments of Blair and Brown, committed our forces at the same time as hollowing them out, during a time of relative prosperity. Cameron on the other hand inherited a disaster and made some thought decisions across a whole range of depts. I really want public spending to be correctly targeted and for the country to provide services, not income to those in need. I would also like a lot more spent on defence and policing, but we also have to change the culture of our country and governments. Poor… Read more »
We had all better hope that TM is still there tomorrow and succeeds in getting her plan through, cause although highly complex and tortuous, it’s the only game in town. The alternatives are either unacceptable or too horrible to contemplate. Her success is also the best guarantee or at least hope that the defence budget will survive or grow a bit more. If she’s defeated it’ll lead to chaos and anything could happen, including the other side getting in and if that happens I fear for the defence of this country. So let’s stop dreaming, let’s stop rocking the boat,… Read more »
Sole survivor. At least in my opinion you have won by knockout. For the others whatever you passionately believe is not helped by arguments that are at best deeply subjective.
Defence relies on prosperity?