Oral evidence: Defence industry in Wales, HC 1259

A key feature is that, first of all, we struggle with really good data about where defence sits in the economy, as I have made clear in the paper. Wales has perhaps not such a large defence presence, but the ones that are there are really quite significant. I must apologise that there is one that I would add to my written evidence, which is the Defence Electronics and Components Agency, to which I will add a paragraph, if I may. That is a very unusual body in that it remains Government-owned and largely Government-operated. It is rather sensitive, because it now has a contract for F-35 components, where the US regime is very strict about security. What is in Wales is small, significant and not necessarily perfectly formed, but we can discuss, as you like, the individual places. Wales does not get much in terms of defence spending per head. With the best numbers that we have, it is quite low alongside particularly Northern Ireland and the north-east, which are in that position, but it has some significant enterprises, some of which have problems that will unfold in the future and be dealt with....