Most importantly, he acknowledges that defence is a major contributor to the nation’s skills and one of the largest employer of apprentices with over 25,500 currently enrolled.
Dunne also acknowledges that, in addition to the MOD budget of almost £37bn, defence’s direct contribution to GDP features over £7bn in exports generated each year on average. Just recently a shipbuilding contract worth up to £20bn was signed between BAE Systems and the Australian government for British-designed Type 26 frigates – the biggest Naval defence contract for a decade.