05 Nov 20. Sub-Committee on Foreign Involvement in the Defence Supply Chain to hold its first evidence session with defence trade associations and SMEs. On Monday 9 November, at 15.15, the Defence Committee’s Sub-Committee on Foreign Involvement in the Defence Supply Chain will hold its first evidence session, focusing in with trade associations and SMEs. This session will explore the extent of foreign involvement in the defence supply chain and its risks and benefits to the UK’s national security and economy. The Committee will examine the relevancy of notions of “ownership” for the MOD when doing business with defence companies and explore whether the MOD fully understands any vulnerabilities in its supply chain. The session will focus on the regulatory measures currently available to the Government through the Enterprise Act 2002 and its plans for a National Security and Investment Bill. Additionally, the session will examine the risks posed to SMEs by foreign involvement post COVID-19, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on defence industry finances, particularly for British SMEs, and whether companies and the MOD should consider onshoring the supply chain.
The Committee will hear from two panels of witnesses. The first panel will include Paul Everitt and Andrew Kinniburgh. Paul Everitt is the Chief Executive of ADS, having a previously served as Chief Executive of SMMT and Director of Communications for the Society of British Aerospace. Andrew Kinniburgh is Director General at NDI, Make UK’s defence and security trade association. Before that he held a number of roles in the Civil Service including in the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Defence.
The second panel will consist of William Hynett, Jayne Moorby and Mandy Ridyard. William Hynett is Chief Executive of Britten-Norman, the UK’s only sovereign civil aircraft manufacturer and a supplier to the UK Armed Forces and security sector. Hynett started his career in the Royal Navy where he served as a carrier-borne fighter pilot. He was awarded an OBE for services to the defence industry in 2010. Jayne Moorby is the Marketing Manager of Oxley Development Company Ltd., a company specialising in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector and aerospace. Mandy Ridyard serves as the Finance Director of Produmax. Produmax are aerospace engineers and experts in flight control components and assemblies, manufacturing precision parts and assemblies for the aerospace industry (civil and defence).
15.15, Monday 9 November:
Panel 1 (15.15)
* Paul Everitt, Chief Executive, ADS Group Ltd
* Andrew Kinniburgh, Director General, NDI
Panel 2 (16.30)
* William Hynett, Chief Executive, Britten-Norman
* Jayne Moorby, Marketing Manager, Oxley
* Mandy Ridyard, Finance Director, Produmax
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which shipbuilding contracts will follow the conclusion of the Type 26 and Type 31 frigate programmes.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Answered on
5 November 2020
The Ministry of Defence remains committed to ensuring the United Kingdom has the capabilities required to fulfil Defence requirements both now and in the future. An update to the 30-year Naval Ship Acquisition Plan will be published after the Integrated Review, in line with the 2017 National Shipbuilding Strategy.
Question
Martyn Day
Scottish National Party
Linlithgow and East Falkirk
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Turkish counterpart on reports of Turkey’s involvement in the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Answer
Wendy Morton
Conservative
Aldridge-Brownhills
Commons
Answered on
5 November 2020
The Foreign Secretary spoke to the Turkish Foreign Minister Çavusoglu on 19 October and both agreed the need for an urgent de-escalation and a return to substantive negotiations. The Defence Secretary visited Ankara on 5-6 October and stressed the need for immediate de-escalation. We continue to encourage all external parties and friends of both states to redouble their efforts in support of an end to hostilities and to refrain from taking actions that may exacerbate the crisis. We support the efforts of the Minsk Group, of which Turkey is a member, to facilitate an end to the conflict.
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the maritime industry in his capacity as Shipbuilding Tsar.
Answer
Mr Ben Wallace
Conservative
Wyre and Preston North
Answered on
4 November 2020
I have regular conversations with maritime industry partners in my capacity as Shipbuilding Tsar as this Government works to reinvigorate the UK’s shipbuilding industry.
Additionally, COVID restrictions not withstanding, I intend to visit a cross-section of the UK shipbuilding sector to discuss how best this Government can work alongside industry partners to deliver our ambitions for an innovative, competititve and thriving enterprise.
Through the Maritime Enterprise Working Group, industry have been working with academia and Government to take forward work to ensure the competitiveness of the sector and set out proposals for how this Government can provide additional support to the shipbuilding enterprise.