Debate contribution: Defence Growth Deal
Debate contribution by Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly on .
- MLA
- Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 11 May 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Defence Growth Deal
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5523768
Read the official Assembly record
Text
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 5, 6 and 8 together. The £50 million defence growth deal has the potential to deliver a wide range of economic benefits. I was pleased to join the Defence Minister, Luke Pollard, and the NIO Minister, Matthew Patrick, at the defence growth deal's launch on 22 April and to see at first hand the breadth and depth of opportunities that it presents for local companies. The deal places a strong emphasis on capability-building, innovation and skills pipelines to further enhance what we have to offer. It includes a targeted programme to help start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises enter the supply chain, ensuring that they can avail themselves of the many available opportunities. We are globally recognised for our commitment to developing world-class, innovative technology for the aerospace, defence, security and space sector. The deal will help to ensure that we can reach our full potential.
155 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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