Defence Secretary outlines military spending boost for British industry

Defence Secretary outlines military spending boost for British industry The Defence Secretary promised national security exemptions so British companies are awarded more defence contracts over their American and European competitors Military spending must boost both the country's security and its industries, John Healey has announced. The Defence Secretary outlined plans to ensure more defence spending stays within the UK, including national security exemptions so British companies are awarded more defence contracts over their American and European competitors. His address at the GMB union’s annual congress came amid ongoing wrangling over the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan, which will set out the direction of the armed forces for the next decade. Unveiling the “Back British Offset policy for defence investment”, he said: “My argument is this, my approach is this: every pound that we spend on defence needs to work twice, first for national security, second for British industry, and British jobs. “These are measures to change a toothless system, so that we develop stronger incentives, stronger requirements, stronger penalties for suppliers to meet their backing Britain commitments. “I want British benefits from every defence contract the Ministry of Defence signs, delivering more British unionised jobs, apprenticeships, and innovation for every pound on defence spent.” Under the plans, defence contracts which go overseas will require jobs to be created in the UK, the Defence Secretary said, who also insisted that his approach is “unashamedly pro-Britain”. Mr Healey continued: “As part of this drive I can announce I will also look to make greater use of a national security exemption system, under the new Procurement Act, for defence contracts. “This will allow the Government to require certain capabilities to be built in Britain. This will support our industrial base. This will support GMB jobs.” Other measures include giving credit to defence contract decisions to companies based in Britain, with long-term commitments to British communities and British supply chains. Reflecting the words of former Labour foreign secretary Ernest Bevin, Mr Healey told the GMB Congress: “Eighty years ago with the debate over a British nuclear deterrent raging, Ernest Bevin slammed his fist on the Cabinet table, and he said he wanted a ‘bloody Union Jack’ on top of it. “Well congress, I want a bloody Union Jack on top of every warship, on top of every drone, on top of every missile submarines made in Barrow, armoured vehicles made in Telford, warships made in Glasgow, drones made in Swindon, and that means going further than any British Government ever has before.”