UK DEFENCE INDUSTRY

That this House notes the importance of maintaining a world class UK defence industry; recognises that the highly skilled workforce of BAE Systems and its suppliers has enabled the UK to be a market leader and centre of technological and manufacturing skills and has put the North West of England at the very heart of manufacturing excellence; calls on the Government to develop a robust and effective manufacturing strategy which would create a level playing field with other European countries; and further calls for investment in new skills and training for workers that new technologies and innovations will require.